GAINESVILLE - Santavious Bryant, a former assistant football coach at Gainesville High School who has served as Grayson’s head coach for the past three seasons, has been named the new head coach of the Red Elephants pending formal approval by the Gainesville City Schools Board of Education.

Bryant returns to GHS after a historic and highly successful tenure at the helm of the Rams’ program. Previously, Bryant served as the Red Elephants' defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach during their 2022 state championship appearance.

"We are thrilled to welcome coach Bryant back to Gainesville," said Gainesville Athletic Director Adam Lindsey. "During his previous time here, he made an immediate impact on our student-athletes and our culture. Watching his growth and the incredible success he achieved at Grayson only solidified our belief that he is the right person to lead this program. He understands the standard of excellence at Gainesville and has proven he can win at the highest level."

During his three seasons leading Grayson football, Bryant compiled a resume that maintained the program's status as a national powerhouse. Over his tenure the Rams went 37-5, made the state quarterfinals three times, the state semifinals twice, and in 2024, Bryant helped the program keep its perfect record in state title games by leading the Rams to their fourth championship in school history, defeating Carrollton 38–24 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

"Gainesville is a special place with a community and a fan base that is second to none," said Bryant. "I am incredibly grateful to the Gainesville City Schools leadership and Coach Lindsey for the opportunity to return to a place that felt like home. My time at Grayson was a blessing, but the chance to lead the Red Elephants - a program with such rich tradition and a commitment to greatness - is an honor I don’t take lightly. I can't wait to get to work with our players and continue building on the Big Red legacy."