Kenyana Heard starts his first season on the Grizzlies coaching staff and will work primarily with the tight ends.

A native of Ecru, Mississippi, Heard is starting his coaching career after finishing up his collegiate career.

Heard was a four-year letter winner for coach Brian Sutton at North Pontotoc High School... led the Vikings to a 10-4 record and a Class 3A Region I title as a senior playing on the offensive and defensive lines. He was named to the WCBI All-End Zone team, Super 22 and Super 12 while also earning Offensive Line Leader Award.

Heard started all 12 games at right guard for the 2015 NJCAA National Champions helping the Rangers to an 11-1 record and a Mississippi Association of Community College Conference (MACCC) title. He was part of an offensive line that paved the way for an attack that averaged 38.7 points and 480.8 yards of total offense including 190.2 rushing and 290.7 passing. Heard transferred and competed on the offensive line for the Butler Grizzlies in 2016 for his sophomore season and helped the team to a 7-5 overall record.

After Butler, Heard transferred to Southwestern College (Winfield) in 2019 and competed in 11 games on the offensive line, an offensive line that paved the way for the NAIA’s 12th-ranked rushing attack at 214.6 yards per game. In 2020 he competed in nine games on the offensive line helping the Moundbuilders to a No. 24 NAIA national ranking and the NAIA’s No. 3 rushing attack (255.2 yards per game) and No. 7-ranked total offense (457.1 yards per game).

Heard used his Grad Transfer year and went to play for Midwestern State Mustangs (TX). He competed in seven games making three starts at right guard. That year the offense fronted the Lone Star Conference’s No. 2 attack that ranked 39th in NCAA Division II in total offense at 413.6 yards per game. Also led the LSC and ranked 11th in NCAA Division II in sacks allowed (0.90 per game) as the Mustangs ranked second in the LSC and 47th in NCAA Division II with 245.9 yards per game. The team also led the LSC and was 13th nationally allowing just 3.8 tackles for loss per game while churning out 149.9 rushing yards per game.

Heard resides in El Dorado.