COACH CRAIG CARTER

(Special Teams Coordinatior/Passing Game Coordinator
Wide Receivers/Punters/Placekickers )

Coach Craig Carter begins his second season at Grissom High School. He comes to Grissom after an 18 year career as both a college and high school assistant.

Most recently at Madison County High School as Special Teams Coordinator and Wide Receivers coach from 2003-2008, helping lead the Tigers to a 27-9 record, Region Champs in 2008 and three straight State Playoff appearances from 2006-2008. Carter coached and mentored All State and All Region performers at both the wide receiver, cornerback, punter and placekicker positions.

Prior to his time at Madison County, Coach Carter coached two seasons as Running Backs and Special Teams Assistant at Pelham(Ala.) High School from 1996-1998. With the Panthers he helped lead Pelham to two straight State Playoff appearances and he coached All State performer and former University of Alabama punter and placekicker Lane Bearden.

Before his stint at Pelham, Coach Carter was a Special Teams Assistant, Assistant Strength Coach and Administrative Assistant under Head Coach Bill Curry at the University of Kentucky from 1990-1994. While at Kentucky, Carter helped coach and mentor all SEC Placekicker and former NFL Cincinnati Bengal kicker Doug Pelfrey.

Prior to coaching at Kentucky, Coach Carter was a Special Teams Assistant under Head Coach Bill Curry at the Universtiy of Alabama from 1987-1990. While at Alabama he helped coach and mentor former NFL Super Bowl and All SEC Punter Chris Mohr and All SEC Placekicker Phillip Doyle. Coach Carter also coached in the Hall of Fame Bowl, Sun Bowl and Sugar Bowl and helped coach the Crimson Tide to the 1989 SEC Championship.

A Huntsville native, Coach Carter graduated from J.O. Johnson High School in 1978. He Lettered as a Running Back and Defensive Back under Coach Max Burleson and Coach Paul Parvin.

COACH JOE DASARO

(Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach)

Assistant Head Coach Dasaro played football at Grissom High School under Coach Larry Robinson. He has been the wrestling coach at Grissom for 31 years and has coached football for 28 years. He pursued his Bachelors degree at Auburn University. As a wrestling Coach Dasaro has been named City Coach of the Year for 19 years and State Coach of the Year seven years since 1984. Other awards include: 1997 State Man of the Year, NFHS Southern Coach of the Year (1998, 2000), 6A State Championship teams (1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002, and 2004). Coach Dasaro was also inducted into the Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. Coach Dasaro feels that making individuals into a team is one of the most exciting things about being involved in coaching. Most precious to Coach's life are his three children, Katie, Stephen, and Maddie.

COACH JOHN SALISBURY

(Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach)

Coach Salisbury has over 17 years coaching experience at the middle and high school levels. He played outside linebacker for Decatur High School (1976-1979) and later as a walk-on at the University of Alabama (1980-1981). Recent coaching experience includes coaching Linebackers and Running Backs at Madison County High School (2001-2008) and serving as Defensive Coordinator for that program from 2004 to 2008 where they earned AHSAA playoff berths in 2006, 2007 (Quarterfinals) and winning the 5A Region 7 Championship in 2008. Coach Salisbury is the proud father of daughter Jessica and son Jacob. John is engaged to Ms. Dawn Offutt and looks forward to adding to his family with an additional son and daughter, Case and Maravel.

COACH JAY GRIFFIN

(Outside Linebackers Coach)

Coach Griffin graduated Grissom High School in 1981. He was linebacker and running back for the 1980 team that advanced to the final four in the state playoffs. He went on to attend Auburn University receiving a BS in electrical engineering and UAH receiving a MS in EE. He has been coaching youth sports for the last ten years and has been assisting the Freshman Football and Wrestling programs at Grissom for the past 3 years. Jay and his wife Mary have two children, Emily and Jake.

COACH BRIAN SMALLEY

(Defensive Backs Coach)

This is Coach Smalley's first year with the Grissom Football Program. He was raised on Sand Mountain and graduated in 1999 from Douglas High School. He attended Jacksonville State University and was a four year starter at Miles College as a strong safety. He was named All SIAC Defensive Back for two years and received the Head Hunter Award all four years. He graduated with an Exercise Physiology degree in 2008 and is a Speed and Strength Coach at D1 Sports in Huntsville. He is married to the former Katie Kozlowski, a Westminster graduate from Huntsville. They have one son, Jackson and they are expecting a little girl, Lily, in October. They also have one big family dog named Dale.

COACH CURTIS PUTMAN

(Defensive Line Coach)

This is Coach Putman's third year to coach at Grissom. He graduated from Hueytown High School in 1986, where he played defensive line and linebacker. He attends Calhoun Community College where he is pursuing a Special Education degree. Coach Putman is a Veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He is also Grissom's Head Freshman Baseball Coach. Curtis and is married Stephanie, who is active in community and GHS athletics programs. They have two children: T.J.(15), who is a freshman at GHS and plays football and baseball and Payton (12), a 7th grader and cheerleader at Mountain Gap Middle School.

COACH ADAM RICE

(Quarterbacks Coach)

GHS alumni Coach Rice is entering his fourth season coaching Grissom football. He was the Freshman team Offensive Coordinator 2005-2006, the Varsity Wide Receivers Coach in 2007 and the Varsity Quarterbacks Coach from 2008 to present.

While at Grissom he was a two year starter at quarterback and was named to the All City team. In 2003 he received a football scholarship to the University of Tennesee-Chattanooga where he played two seasons. He also played quarterback for the Tennessee Valley Vipers from 2008-2009.

In his spare time he enjoys watching Alabama football and spending time with family.

COACH BRANDON HORTON

(Strength & Conditioning Coordinator)

Coach Horton is in his first year with the Grissom football program. He attended Butler High School where he played football and was the Defensive MVP and a team captain. He also earned honors on the All City and All Region teams. He received his B.S. in Sport Sciences from Tusculum College. While at Tusculum he was on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll and Pioneer Elite. Coach Horton has also served as a Strength and Speed Coach at D1 Sports Training. He is married to Ashlee Horton.

HEAD TRAINER CARTER FORGEY MS, ATC

(Employed by SportsMed Orthopeadic Surgery and Spine Center)

A Huntsville native, Carter played both soccer and baseball at Huntsville High School. He attended Troy State University and received a B.S. in Athletic Training. Carter also received his Master's Degree in Exercise Science from Mississippi State University. He is married to the former Michelle Ross. They have two sons Walker (5), and Truman (3) and a daughter Jane Wyatt(1). Employed by SportsMed Orthopeadic Surgery and Spine Center, Carter will be starting his 8th year at Grissom as their Athletic Trainer.