Clayton State University Athletics

At a time when Clayton State men's soccer was just beginning its journey as an NCAA Division II member, and coming off of a two win season, Josh Grenier was a key reason for the program's turnaround in his three years.
 
Joining the program from Southern New Hampshire with head coach John Rootes, Grenier inherited a team that went 2-13-1 in 1997 and the hard charging defender immediately brought stability to the Lakers' back line. While starting all 37 games he helped the club post back-to-back seven win seasons in 1998 and 1999 and helped form the foundation for what would come in his senior season.
 
In 2000, Clayton State put it all together as they produced a program record 18-3-1 campaign with Grenier starting all 22 games. That shattered the team record of 11 wins set in the inaugural 1992 season, was just the third time the program had reached double-digit wins in a season and still stands as the second most in team history.
 
After first round losses in the Peach Belt Conference in each of the program's first two years of eligibility, the 2000 season would see the Lakers get past Augusta 1-0 in overtime and then punch their ticket to the title game with a 2-1 win over Lander.
 
In that game it would be another defensive battle, one that Grenier and the Lakers would win 1-0 over USC Spartanburg for not just the program's first PBC Championship but Clayton State as a whole. It would also be the campaign that delivered the first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in the history of the men's soccer program.
 
Another defensive showdown, this time with Francis Marion, the Lakers would head to and through overtime deadlocked at 1-1 before eventually falling 5-3 in a penalty kick shootout. The season would see the program earn six national rankings (the first ever) and top out at No. 14 in the nation.
 
Individually, Grenier was named PBC All-Tournament in 1999 and 2000 and All-PBC in his final season. That campaign would also net the hard-nosed defender National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Region and All-American honors. The latter made him the first Clayton State men's soccer player to be so honored at the NCAA Division II level.
 
For his career Grenier started all 59 games and helped lead the club to 37 games of one goal or fewer allowed, including 21 shutouts. The 2000 season saw an unbelievable 19 games of a goal or less, 14 clean sheets and two separate streaks of four straight shutouts.


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