Johnnie Grimes joined the Notre Dame of Maryland University men’s basketball coaching staff in 2023, bringing with him a proven track record of success and leadership developed over more than two decades in the game.
A native of Baltimore and a 1990 graduate of Walbrook Senior High School, Grimes began his coaching career as the Head Varsity Basketball Coach at Digital Harbor High School, where he led the program from 2004 to 2011. During his tenure, he built Digital Harbor into one of the area’s premier programs, capturing a Division II City Championship, a Regional Championship, and two State Championships (2009 and 2011).
While coaching at Digital Harbor, Grimes also served as an assistant coach for Nike Baltimore Elite in 2011, where he worked with and developed some of the region’s top high school talent competing on the national circuit.
Before coaching, Grimes made his mark as a player at Catonsville Community College, where he was a standout shooting guard who earned Team MVP honors and was selected to the All-JUCO Tournament Team.
Grimes went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Morgan State University in 1999, combining his passion for athletics and education into a lifelong commitment to mentoring student-athletes both on and off the court.
He has one daughter, Wilson.
