Football
Chris Grautski
- Title:
- Director, Athletic Performance
- Alma Mater:
- Worcester, '09 / Fitchburg, '13
- Year at UCLA:
- 1st in 2026
Chris Grautski enters his first season as the director of athletic performance coach for the UCLA football program in 2026. The upcoming campaign marks his 19th year in the collegiate strength and conditioning ranks.
Grautski reunites with head coach Bob Chesney after serving on his staffs at James Madison (2025), FCS Holy Cross (2018-23) and NCAA Division II Assumption College (2013-17) for a total of 12 seasons. He has been a full-time member on eight staffs that have reached the Playoffs (four FCS, three NCAA Division II, one CFP).
Grautski, alongside Chesney, helped James Madison reach new heights in their one year together in Harrisonburg, Va. in 2025. The Dukes recorded just the 10th unbeaten conference record in Sun Belt history, going 8-0, and captured the program’s first Sun Belt Championship. James Madison secured a spot in the College Football Playoff (CFP) for the first time in school history with the No. 12 seed and earned its highest AP ranking in program history at No. 19. The Dukes finished the season with a 12-2 record following their CFP First Round appearance.
Prior to James Madison, Grautski worked with Chesney in each of his six seasons at Holy Cross as the assistant strength and conditioning coach from 2018-23 before being elevated to director of sport performance in 2024. The Crusaders won six consecutive Patriot League championships and earned four berths into the NCAA FCS Playoffs with Grautski on staff. That included a 2022 season in which Holy Cross went 11-0 during the regular season and earned the No. 8 seed in the FCS Playoffs before reaching the quarterfinals and finishing 12-1.
Grautski followed Chesney to Holy Cross after five years together at Assumption, where he was promoted to head strength and conditioning coach for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Grautski operated in a hybrid role as the defensive line coach and assistant strength and conditioning coordinator for the Greyhounds from 2013-15. Across those five seasons, Grautski helped Assumption to a record of 44-16, including five-straight winning seasons and NCAA Division II playoff appearances in each of his final three years. In addition to football, Grautski also worked with basketball, women's lacrosse, baseball, softball, soccer, ice hockey, volleyball, tennis and golf.
Prior to Assumption, Grautski was the defensive line coach and strength and conditioning coordinator at NCAA Division III Worcester Polytechnic Institute for two years in 2011-12. He held the same role at NCAA Division III Fitchburg State University for two seasons in 2009-10.
He began his strength and conditioning career as an intern at Holy Cross in 2008-09, assisting with the football, field hockey, men's basketball, men's ice hockey and men's lacrosse teams.
Grautski has been certified by the National Strength & Conditioning Association (CSCS), USA Weightlifting (USAW Level 1), Precision Nutrition (PN1), the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI Level 1), Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR Level 1 & 2) and the American Red Cross (CPR & AED).
A 2009 graduate of Worcester State University with bachelor's degree in health science, he was a four-year starter on the defensive line for the Lancers, serving as a team captain for two years. Grautski later earned his master's degree in leadership and management from Fitchburg State in 2013.
Grautski’s Coaching Experience
2008, 2009 – Strength and Conditioning Intern, Holy Cross (FCS)
2009, 2010 – Defensive Line/Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Fitchburg State (NCAA DIII)
2011, 2012 – Defensive Line/Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (NCAA DIII)
2013-15 – Defensive Line/Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Assumption (NCAA DII)
2016, 2017 – Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Assumption (NCAA DII)
2018-23 – Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, Holy Cross (FCS)
2024 – Director of Sport Performance, Holy Cross (FCS)
2025 – Director of Athletic Performance, James Madison
2026 – Director of Athletic Performance, UCLA
Grautski reunites with head coach Bob Chesney after serving on his staffs at James Madison (2025), FCS Holy Cross (2018-23) and NCAA Division II Assumption College (2013-17) for a total of 12 seasons. He has been a full-time member on eight staffs that have reached the Playoffs (four FCS, three NCAA Division II, one CFP).
Grautski, alongside Chesney, helped James Madison reach new heights in their one year together in Harrisonburg, Va. in 2025. The Dukes recorded just the 10th unbeaten conference record in Sun Belt history, going 8-0, and captured the program’s first Sun Belt Championship. James Madison secured a spot in the College Football Playoff (CFP) for the first time in school history with the No. 12 seed and earned its highest AP ranking in program history at No. 19. The Dukes finished the season with a 12-2 record following their CFP First Round appearance.
Prior to James Madison, Grautski worked with Chesney in each of his six seasons at Holy Cross as the assistant strength and conditioning coach from 2018-23 before being elevated to director of sport performance in 2024. The Crusaders won six consecutive Patriot League championships and earned four berths into the NCAA FCS Playoffs with Grautski on staff. That included a 2022 season in which Holy Cross went 11-0 during the regular season and earned the No. 8 seed in the FCS Playoffs before reaching the quarterfinals and finishing 12-1.
Grautski followed Chesney to Holy Cross after five years together at Assumption, where he was promoted to head strength and conditioning coach for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Grautski operated in a hybrid role as the defensive line coach and assistant strength and conditioning coordinator for the Greyhounds from 2013-15. Across those five seasons, Grautski helped Assumption to a record of 44-16, including five-straight winning seasons and NCAA Division II playoff appearances in each of his final three years. In addition to football, Grautski also worked with basketball, women's lacrosse, baseball, softball, soccer, ice hockey, volleyball, tennis and golf.
Prior to Assumption, Grautski was the defensive line coach and strength and conditioning coordinator at NCAA Division III Worcester Polytechnic Institute for two years in 2011-12. He held the same role at NCAA Division III Fitchburg State University for two seasons in 2009-10.
He began his strength and conditioning career as an intern at Holy Cross in 2008-09, assisting with the football, field hockey, men's basketball, men's ice hockey and men's lacrosse teams.
Grautski has been certified by the National Strength & Conditioning Association (CSCS), USA Weightlifting (USAW Level 1), Precision Nutrition (PN1), the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI Level 1), Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR Level 1 & 2) and the American Red Cross (CPR & AED).
A 2009 graduate of Worcester State University with bachelor's degree in health science, he was a four-year starter on the defensive line for the Lancers, serving as a team captain for two years. Grautski later earned his master's degree in leadership and management from Fitchburg State in 2013.
Grautski’s Coaching Experience
2008, 2009 – Strength and Conditioning Intern, Holy Cross (FCS)
2009, 2010 – Defensive Line/Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Fitchburg State (NCAA DIII)
2011, 2012 – Defensive Line/Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (NCAA DIII)
2013-15 – Defensive Line/Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Assumption (NCAA DII)
2016, 2017 – Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Assumption (NCAA DII)
2018-23 – Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, Holy Cross (FCS)
2024 – Director of Sport Performance, Holy Cross (FCS)
2025 – Director of Athletic Performance, James Madison
2026 – Director of Athletic Performance, UCLA
The First 48 Hours - Head Coach Bob Chesney Welcomed at UCLA
Friday, December 12
Bruin Insider Show - Bob Chesney (Dec. 10, 2025)
Wednesday, December 10
Cinematic Recap - UCLA Introduces Head Coach Bob Chesney (Dec. 9, 2025)
Tuesday, December 09
Bob Chesney Introductory Press Conference (Dec. 9, 2025)
Tuesday, December 09
