A decorated former technical sergeant who has seen combat in Operation Desert Storm, Grace is an active supporter of his fellow military veterans, especially those who have faced challenges after they have returned home from war zones, as shown in the UCLA video Coach Grace On Giving Thanks For Our Veterans. Jeff Eisenberg of Yahoo Sports said the importance of discipline, teamwork, and following the chain of command became ingrained in Grace, and three months in Saudi Arabia (during Operation Desert Storm) also taught him to appreciate the difference between the life-threatening pressure of a combat zone and the day-to-day challenges of a job.