Clayton State University Athletics

Mason Grounds joined Clayton State Athletics as the first ever full-time head strength and conditioning coach in August of 2019. In July of 2021, he was promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Performance and Operations.

In this role, Grounds oversees the strength and conditioning program and all game operations including coordinating the hiring and training of game-day personnel, serving as game administrator for all home contests and assisting with athletic facilities.  

In May of 2022, Grounds was named Vice Chairman of the Athletics Performance Committee for the Peach Belt Conference. 

Grounds came to Morrow after a one-year stint at Texas A&M Kingsville where he served as a graduate assistant for the strength and conditioning program.

While at A&M, he developed strength and conditioning programs for women’s basketball, men’s and women’s track & field and volleyball. He also assisted with football, baseball and men’s basketball.

Prior to A&M, Grounds spent three months working with Division I University of Missouri. During his time there, he worked with football, women’s soccer, baseball and the throwers for the track & field program.

Grounds graduated from Missouri State University in 2018 with a degree in exercise and movement science. While working with the Bears, Grounds spent time with the track & field and cross country program, men’s and women’s soccer and field hockey from September 2015 through January 2017.

In January, he transitioned to serving as a student assistant strength & conditioning coach where he worked with the men’s basketball team until his graduation in 2018.

In December of 2020, Grounds earned his Master of Science in education from Texas A&M - Kingsville. 

Grounds is certified through the National Strength & Condition Association (NSCA) and is certified in CPR/AED/First Aid.