Bill Grier (10-19-63), University of Oregon '90, has been an integral part of Gonzaga University's arrival on the national scene.

As the "defensive coordinator" for the Bulldogs, Grier has developed the program into one known for its defense as much as it is for its offense. Since Grier assumed the defensive role under former head coach Dan Monson, Gonzaga has led the West Coast Conference in field goal defense for seven of the last nine seasons, including the 2004 season when the Bulldogs set a school record by holding opponents to just 38.3 percent from the field, a mark that ranked third in the country. The Bulldogs also had one stretch of three straight seasons when opponents were held to less than 40.0 percent from the field. The year the Bulldogs didn't top the league they were a close second.

After serving six years under Dan Fitzgerald as the restricted-earnings assistant, Grier was elevated to a full-time assistant for the 1997-98 season when Monson took the head coaching reigns. He faced one of his biggest coaching decisions in July, 1999, when Monson accepted the head coaching position at the University of Minnesota.

Grier chose to remain a Bulldog, much to the delight of new head coach Mark Few.
"Bill takes a lot of pride in what has transpired at Gonzaga. He's played an integral role in a lot of things that have happened here," Few said. "He believes in the type of guys we recruit and play with, and he enjoys coaching those guys. He's as loyal to Gonzaga as the day is long. Bill made my transition to head coach much easier."

During his two seasons under Monson, the Bulldogs went 52-17, won back-to-back WCC titles, went to the 1998 NIT Sweet Sixteen and made it to the 1999 NCAA Elite Eight.
But Grier and Few haven't slowed down the past seven seasons, compiling a 188-41 record over that span. In 2004 the 28-3 Bulldogs received a No. 2 seed into the NCAA Tournament after finishing the regular season ranked third in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll, in 2005 Gonzaga was a No. 3 seed and finished 10th in the final AP balloting and in 2006 the Bulldogs finished fifth in the final AP poll and earned a No. 3 seed to the tournament.

Prior to their Top 10 success of the past three seasons, the Bulldogs advanced to the Sweet 16 three straight seasons from 1999-01. In 2002 Gonzaga recorded a school-best 29-4 record, was ranked sixth in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. In 2003 the Bulldogs garnered their inaugural at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament after capturing the WCC regular-season title. In 2001 Gonzaga went 26-7 in winning both the WCC regular-season and tournament titles on their way to a third straight NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. In 2000 the Bulldogs went 26-9, winning the WCC Tournament title and advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16. The Bulldogs have won 358 games the past 14 years, and Grier has been a key ingredient for the Bulldogs' rise to national prominence.

Under Few, Grier's main responsibilities are recruiting; floor coaching and guard play development; game preparation, and scouting in addition to his role of devising the defensive scheme.

Grier started his coaching career at his alma mater, Cottage Grove High School in 1986. After serving two years as freshman coach, Grier was elevated to junior varsity coach and varsity assistant. Grier left Cottage Grove to be the head coach at Creswell High School during the 1990-91 season.

Grier played two years in junior college (Central Oregon and Southwestern Oregon). He transferred to Oregon and received a B.S. degree.

He married Nicole Styles Aug. 30, 1996, and the couple became parents with the arrival of Giselle Marie on March 3, 2006, just two days prior to Gonzaga's home semifinal game in the WCC Tournament.