RAPID CITY, S.D. --- In honor of Black History Month, The South Dakota Mines Athletic Dept., would like to highlight one of its former student-athletes --- Barry Granger.
Granger, who was named to the Hardrocker Hall of Fame in 2017, was a member of the South Dakota Mines football program from 1978-80. He joined the Hardrocker football team in the spring of his freshman year, transferring to South Dakota Mines from Cortland State University in New York.

He was named SDIC All-Conference (1978 and 1980) and was selected All-NAIA District 12 and NAIA Honorable Mention All-American his senior year. He was a team captain of the 1980 defensive unit recognized as one of the top defensive units in South Dakota Mines History.  Granger was one of the many outstanding linebackers that was developed under the coaching of Sonny Coyle in the 1970's and 1980's.
Some highlights for Granger while attending South Dakota Mines include:
                Most memorable Athletic moment while a Hardrocker?

• "During my senior year, the 1980 Hardrocker football team achieved a record of 8-1.After losing our first game of the year, the team went 8-0, won the conference championship and was ranked 11^th in NAIA Division II."

Most influential person while attending Mines and why?

• "Dr Sandvig, Dean of the ChE department.Dr Sandvig was very supportive of both my academic and athletic career. He provided personal tutoring and career advice while I was on campus and after I started work in Corporate America."
• "Sonny Coyle, defensive coordinator Hardrocker football team in the 1970's and 1980's.He was a true teacher, motivator and built strong teamwork with the defensive team.The 1980 Hardrocker football defensive unit still has defensive records today."

How did your degree from South Dakota Mines prepared you for your career and life?

• "My ChE degree built a strong technical foundation to compete and deliver results throughout my career.My degree also provided a problem-solving mentality that drove product and process development and improvement."

Best piece of advice you could give current Hardrocker Athletes?

• "Always remember you are a Student-Athlete.Athletics provides a pathway to attend South Dakota Mines and in many cases, some financial support.The real prize is the degree. The degree opens up many new possibilities in business, technology and entrepreneurship for a lifetime."

What are some career accomplishment that you're particularly proud of?

• "I have been blessed to achieve many milestones in my career."
• "One of the First African American executives at DuPont to run a global business greater the $1B in revenue.
• "In 2008, I was appointed to the Board of Delaware State University, a Historically Black College and University."
• "On October 1, 2020 appointed to the Board of Black Hills Corporation, headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota.

 
Granger graduated from South Dakota Mines in 1981 with a Chemical Engineering degree and then went on to earn an MBA from Indiana University in 1987. His father was in the Air Force and stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base when Granger was a junior and senior at Douglas High School. He and his wife Michelle have three children: Dylan (age 30), Cameron (age 26), and Alyssa (age 24).