Chris Grautski - Director of Athletic Performance/Football - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Chris Grautski

Title:
Director of Athletic Performance/Football
Phone:
540-568-6517
Physical Address:
Plecker APC 224 (220 Champions Dr.) / MSC 2201

Chris Grautski was hired as the Director of Athletic Performance, overseeing the strength & conditioning program with the JMU football team in January 2025.

He reunites with Head Coach Bob Chesney at JMU after serving on his staffs at both Holy Cross and Assumption College. Grautski, who has more than a decade-and-a-half experience in the strength and conditioning field, joins the Dukes after spending seven seasons at Holy Cross (2018-24).

Most recently, he was Director of Sport Performance for the 2024 season after being either Director or Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach over his first six seasons in Worcester. He additionally worked as the team’s pro liaison.

During his time at Holy Cross, he was part of five consecutive Patriot League championships and four berths in the NCAA FCS playoffs. That included a 2022 season in which Holy Cross went 11-0 during the regular season and earned the #8 seed in the FCS Playoffs, reaching the quarterfinals and finishing 12-1.

Prior to Holy Cross, Grautski worked with Chesney at Assumption (2013-17), where he was head strength and conditioning coach for the 2016 and 2017 seasons while being assistant strength and conditioning coordinator from 2013-15. In addition to football, Grautski also worked with basketball, women’s lacrosse, baseball, softball, soccer, ice hockey, volleyball, tennis and golf.

Grautski worked at Worcester Polytechnic Institute for two years (2011-14), where he was defensive line coach and strength and conditioning coordinator. He also held the same role at Fitchburg State for two years (2009-11).

He began his career as an intern at Holy Cross (2008-09), assisting with football, field hockey, men’s basketball, men’s ice hockey and men’s lacrosse.

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.