HAMILTON  — Fred '50 and Marilyn Dunlap Head Football Coach Stan Dakosty announced the hiring of James Groce this week, who will assume defensive line duties heading into the 2024 season. Groce brings over eight years of coaching experience at the FCS and NCAA Division II levels where he has aided in the development of 10 All-Conference players and one All-American.

"We're excited to get Coach Groce here," Dakosty said. "He's a very talented coach and an even better person. His defensive line always shows up on film, and he's done a lot of great work developing his players over the years. They always play hard and with a chip on their shoulder. I'm excited to see him develop and mold our guys on the field, and I know he'll do a great job of mentoring them off the field as well. We're thrilled to welcome him and his family to Colgate Football." 

Groce heads to Hamilton after holding the same position at Marist College for the past five years. With the Red Foxes, Groce coached six All-Conference selections, one ECAC Second-Team student-athlete, and a Phil Steele All-American. 

Prior to his time at Marist, Groce was the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for West Virginia State University, where he and his staff led the Yellow Jackets to the program's first winning season in over 10 years. 

Groce began his coaching career at Concord High School in Wilmington, Del. In one season as defensive line and wide receivers coach, he produced two All-Conference players, one of which would go on to play FCS football.  

A defensive lineman in college, Groce began his playing career at Coastal Carolina before transferring to West Chester, where he walked on the team and played for four seasons. 

Groce graduated from West Chester University in 2014 with a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. He later went on to earn a Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications from Marist College in 2021. 

"I'm so excited for this great opportunity," Groce said. "Colgate is a special place and I'm grateful to be a part of such an incredible program. I'd like to thank Coach Dakosty for welcoming me to the staff, and I can't wait to hit the ground running with some special student-athletes both now and in the future here in Hamilton."