LIVONIA, Mich. - ​Madonna University President Michael Grandillo, an ONU graduate, joined Athletics Director Scott Kennell at Thursday’s news conference to announce that the university will add football to its intercollegiate athletics program, bringing the total offerings to 20 teams.

The Crusaders compete in the 12-school Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. This is the ninth sport added under Grandillo’s leadership, following the addition of eight teams in 2015.

 “We hope bringing collegiate football to Western Wayne County will be as thrilling for the communities we serve as it is to the Madonna community,” Grandillo stated. “The strength and success of our current programs gives us confidence that Crusaders’ football will find success as well.”

Grandillo, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from ONU in 1979, has received the Distinguished Alumni Award from ONU. Following graduation he worked in the ONU admissions office for several years before taking positions at Heidelberg and Tiffin universities.
Grandillo was an outstanding student at ONU, becoming the first four-year letter-winner in soccer at ONU and Greek Man of the Year his senior year. Grandillo and his wife Nancy are the parents of two children.