Nick Grill joined the Harvard men's lacrosse coaching staff ahead of the 2024 season. In his role, Grill oversees the Crimson defense, helping to develop one of the top defensive units in the country.
Grill helped guide Harvard to a historic season in 2025, helping the team secure spots in the Ivy League and NCAA Tournaments while collecting 10 wins, the most for the team since the 2014 season. Under Grill's mentorship, the Crimson defense set a new program record with 175 caused turnovers and 87 forced failed clears. In Grill's defensive scheme, the Crimson tortured opposing offenses, after posting a .745 clearing percentage. Under his guidance, three defenders earned All-Ivy League honors including Second Team selection, Martin Nelson.
In his first year with Harvard, Grill and the Crimson enjoyed remarkable success. The team earned eight wins, starting the season with an impressive 6-0 record—the program's best start since 1990. Harvard climbed as high as No. 12 in the Inside Lacrosse poll during the 2024 season. Defensively, the Crimson finished in the top 12 nationally in caused turnovers, ranked in the top 20 in ground balls per game, and stood third in the Ivy League in scoring defense. Under Grill's mentorship, four defensive players earned All-Ivy League honors, including SSDM Andrew O'Berry '24, who also received an honorable mention for All-America after an outstanding season within Grill's defensive scheme.
Before arriving in Cambridge, Grill held one-year stints at the University of Vermont and Binghamton. During the 2023 season at Vermont, Grill served as the defensive coordinator, leading the Catamounts to nine wins and an undefeated 7-0 record in America East Conference play. Vermont’s defense, under his guidance, allowed just over 10 goals per game—a mark that ranked 10th in Division I lacrosse.
A former All-American, Grill began his coaching career in 2021 after an accomplished collegiate playing career at the University of Maryland and Marquette University. At Marquette, Grill was a three-year starter and earned All-Big East honors each season. He transferred to Maryland for his final collegiate season, where he emerged as one of the nation’s premier close defenders.
In 2021, Grill helped Maryland reach the national championship game, earning USILA and Inside Lacrosse All-America honors. That same season, he was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and received Second Team All-Big Ten and NCAA All-Tournament Team honors.
Grill is also a seasoned professional lacrosse player. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 PLL College Draft by the Whipsnakes Lacrosse Club. Currently, he plays as an LSM for the Denver Outlaws and recently completed his fourth professional season in the summer of 2025.
A native of Bridgewater, N.J., Grill holds a degree in sociology from the University of Maryland.
