After graduating Clay High School out of South Bend, Ind., in 1981, Gruden went on to play quarterback at Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio. Gruden only stayed for one year though and transferred to the University of Dayton.
At Dayton, Gruden served as the backup quarterback for three years. Right after college, he jumped into coaching. Gruden served as the University of Tennessee's graduate assistant in the 1985-86 season, was the quarterbacks coach at Southeast Missouri State for two years, served as the offensive assistant and tight ends coach at the University of the Pacific in 1989, and after a year with the 49ers, Gruden was the wide receivers coach at the University of Pittsburgh in 1991.