David A. Grant Named OCC President

David A. Grant, an administrator and crew coach at Orange Coast College, was named president of the college on Wednesday by the Coast Community College District Board of Trustees.

Grant, who has served as interim president since September, was chosen from among four finalists. Grant will lead the largest single-campus community college in the nation, which has an average enrollment of more than 26,000 students.

“We have some tremendously talented teachers at OCC, and my role will be to provide the best possible atmosphere for them to do what they do best, and that’s teach,” Grant said. “OCC is an exciting campus, and it’s marvelous to be asked to continue as president.”

Grant’s appointment was announced after a closed session at the Board of Trustees’ regular meeting. He received a standing ovation from supporters when the announcement was made.

“Dave always gets the best out of those around him,” said board member Armando R. Ruiz. “He is very student-oriented, he knows the community, and that’s what convinced us he was right for the position.”

In addition to coaching, Grant served as assistant dean of students from 1964 to 1974, and dean of students from 1976 to 1986. He also taught history and was director of OCC’s marine activities program. Last spring, he played a major role in the completion of a $400,000 addition to the school’s Sailing and Rowing Center and was instrumental in establishing the Newport Aquatic Center in 1988. He was named to the Sailing Hall of Fame in Annapolis, Md., in 1975.

A Southern California native, Grant, 52, graduated from Newport Harbor High School and Orange Coast College, where he was active in student government. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science from UCLA and a master’s in American history from Cal State Long Beach.

Grant replaces outgoing President Donald Bronsard, who resigned last year to take an unpaid leave of absence. He will return to the district in the fall as an instructor.