Living in Monrovia, Liberia, off the West African coast, Sul Ross grad Will Grear did not know what the future was holding for him or his family.

Grear's native country had just endured a civil war that lasted eight years.

In 1999, a second civil war broke out throughout the country causing a full-scale dispute. As a result, Grear and his family fled to a refugee camp in the neighboring country of Côte d'Ivoire.

With many displaced and in need, Grear's family was put on a list and selected to be sent to the United States.

It was at that moment when Grear's life changed forever.

Now, Grear is returning to his alma mater to take over as the new head strength and conditioning coach.

"I'm excited to work at Sul Ross because its where I played my college ball," Grear said. "It's good to be giving back to the community that helped me become the man that I am today.

"I'm ready to bring my passion, my will to win to every sport to help these athletes love working out."

Grear will assume the role on Aug. 15.

"I am thrilled to have coach Grear serve in a new role at Sul Ross," said Sul Ross Athletic Director Amanda Workman. "He is such a great source of encouragement and light for everyone around him.

"He has such great passion and appreciation for life and our student-athletes will benefit greatly from his presence."

Grear's family arrived in the United States in September 2004 as they relocated to Austin, Texas, where Grear became a multi-sport standout in soccer, football, track and powerlifting at Del Valle High School.

His athleticism brought him to Sul Ross where he ended up starring as a two-sport standout in football and track.

Grear earned first-team American Southwest Conference honors at running back his senior year after he ran for 855 yards and scored six touchdowns.

One of his most notable performances came during a 34-13 victory over Louisiana College on Oct. 19, 2019, where he compiled 252 rushing yards with two touchdowns.

Grear was also a member of the 4x100-meter relay team at Sul Ross that qualified for a spot in the 2018 NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships.

He completed his undergrad work from 2015-2020 and most recently obtained his master's from Sul Ross on Aug. 2.

This is Grear's first strength and conditioning job after volunteering for two and a half years at Sul Ross as a strength and conditioning coach and assisting the running backs for Lobo football.

"I hope to build a better culture," said Grear. "My philosophy is creating a very competitive atmosphere in and out of the weight room so now they'll be ready for the classroom and for their sport.

"(I'm) living the American dream. Being back home we always had a dream of coming to America and being free."

Sul Ross and the community of Alpine, Texas, helped transform Grear's life and it also paved the way for this new opportunity to follow his passion.

"I didn't know we were going to make it to the refugee camp or even make it out of the refugee camp," he said. "The community definitely helped me grow as an individual. When things were hard the people there made it easier.

"We need coaches that care and love the athletes just as much as they love getting out there. Sul Ross giving me this opportunity means the world to me."