Bio

Derek Grinkin becomes assistant athletic director in August 2021.

He also enters his eighth season on the Salve Regina football staff and earned a promotion to special teams coordinator earlier in the month.

He has always sought to form "strong relationships within the local community" and maintain meaningful partnerships with community members by finding creative ways for students to engage with the City of Newport. In coordination with the football program, Grinkin keeps student athletes involved in local volunteer work to include local food drives and "Be the Match."

While at Salve Regina, Grinkin has guided at least two players each season to all-conference honors. In 2016 and 2017 he had four all-conference players from the defensive line, three academic all-region honorees, and one Academic All-America®. Grinkin recruits in Rhode Island and Northern New Jersey.

Prior to Salve Regina, Grinkin spent six seasons coaching Woonsocket High School. At Woonsocket, Grinkin served as both assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Grinkin guided Woonsocket to back-to-back state championship (2009, 2010). He coached a defense that allowed just 27 points all season with seven shutouts and 12-2 record in 2009. In 2010 Grinkin's defense allowed only 24 points on way to another state championship with six defensive shutouts and 12-1 record. Grinkin coached eight student athletes that were selected first team all-state as linebackers.

The New Jersey native played four years of football at Curry College before graduating in 2006 with a degree in criminal justice. Grinkin was part of three Colonel teams that played in the NCAA Division III National Championships for then-head coach and former New England Patriot Steve Nelson. Nelson had also been athletic director at the Milton, Mass., school. 

Grinkin also has volunteered with many local organizations including peer mentoring with local students as well as at group homes throughout Rhode Island. Grinkin is an alumnus of "Ten Men," a statewide coalition of men that speak out about domestic violence. "Ten Men" is made up of Rhode Island men from diverse walks of life that share a common vision - a world without domestic violence. Grinkin also owns and operates Element Property Solutions, a demolition and property management business on Aquidneck Island.

Grinkin's new role will include game management duties for home football games at Toppa Field.