Alex Grinch - Defensive Coordinator / Safeties - Football Coaches

Photo by: Ty Russell

Alex Grinch

Title:
Defensive Coordinator / Safeties

• Hired as defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Oklahoma in January 2019.

• Has transformed the Sooners' defense into a more-than-formidable unit that ranked third nationally in 2020 in interceptions (16; ranked 112th in 2018 with six the year before his arrival at OU), fourth in opponent third-down conversion percentage (27.9; ranked 119th in 2018 at 46.4), seventh in sacks per game (3.4; ranked 74th in 2018 at 2.1), ninth in pass defense efficiency (112.9 rating; ranked 112th in 2018 at 151.9), ninth in rushing defense (105.1 ypg; ranked 59th in 2018 at 159.8), 28th in scoring defense (21.7 ppg; ranked 101st in 2018 at 33.3) and 29th in total defense (350.6 ypg; ranked 114th in 2018 at 453.8).

• In his first year in Norman, OU led the Big 12 in total defense in league play (330.6 ypg) and ranked 17th nationally on the season in opponent third-down conversion percentage (32.2), 32nd in rushing defense (134.1 ypg) and 38th in total defense (356.4 ypg).

• Has produced five NFL Draft picks in his two years at OU: LB Kenneth Murray (first round) and DL Neville Gallimore (third round) in 2020; DE Ronnie Perkins (third round), CB Tre Brown (fourth round) and DB Tre Norwood (seventh round) in 2021.

• A four-time nominee for the Broyles Award (given to the nation’s top assistant coach) and 2017 and 2019 semifinalist.

• Has coached in the secondary at all six of his full-time coaching stops. Presided over safeties at Ohio State (2018), defensive backs at Washington State (2015-17), safeties at Missouri (2012-14), defensive backs at Wyoming (2009-11) and cornerbacks at New Hampshire (2005-08).

• Helped 2018 Ohio State team to a 13-1 record and Big Ten and Rose Bowl titles. The Buckeyes finished No. 3 nationally.

• Served the 2015-17 seasons as Washington State’s defensive coordinator and secondary coach, leading an extraordinary turnaround for head coach Mike Leach’s defense.

• In 2014, the year before his arrival at Washington State, the Cougars ranked 99th nationally in total defense (442.3 ypg), 127th in pass defense (296.6 ypg) and 127th in turnovers gained (8). In 2017, his WSU unit ranked 16th in total defense (323.3 ypg), ninth in passing defense (170.9 ypg) and ninth in turnovers gained (28).

• Helped Missouri to a 23-5 record over the 2013 and '14 seasons, two SEC East Division titles, a Citrus Bowl victory over Minnesota in 2013 and a Cotton Bowl win over Oklahoma State in 2014. His safeties combined to grab six of the team’s 12 interceptions on the year. Strong safety Braylon Webb recorded a team-high four picks and earned second-team All-SEC honors.

• In Grinch’s final year at Wyoming (2011), three of his Cowboy defensive backs earned postseason honors. Wyoming concluded the regular season ranked No. 34 in the nation in pass defense (202.2 ypg) and ranked No. 1 in the Mountain West and tied for No. 5 nationally in turnovers gained (31).

• Two of Grinch’s Wyoming safeties — Chris Prosinski and Tashaun Gipson — went on to play in the NFL. Prosinski was a fourth-round selection by Jacksonville in 2011. Gipson, who is with the Bears, spent four seasons with Cleveland, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2014 as a Brown.

• In his first two seasons at New Hampshire, Grinch coached cornerbacks before being promoted to secondary coach and recruiting coordinator before the 2007 season. UNH reached the FCS playoffs all four seasons he was on staff, made three quarterfinals appearances and earned a No. 7 ranking in the final 2008 FCS Coaches Poll. Cornerback Corey Graham was a fifth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in the 2007 NFL Draft and was a 2012 NFL Pro Bowl selection.

• Prior to New Hampshire, Grinch was the defensive graduate assistant coach at Missouri for the 2003 and 2004 campaigns, and was an MU administrative graduate assistant during the 2002 season.

• Combining his years as a player and as a full-time assistant coach, Grinch’s teams have combined for a 188-63 (.749) record, including winning marks at New Hampshire (37-14), Missouri (28-12), Washington State (26-13), Ohio State (13-1) and Oklahoma (12-2) as a coach.

Accomplishments as a Player

• His University of Mount Union teams went 54-1 from 1998-2001 and earned three NCAA Division III championships (1998, 2000 and 2001). They also won four consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference titles.

• As a senior in 2001, was a third-team All-America safety by D3football.com and earned first-team academic all-league honors.

• Was a Mount Union teammate of Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell and Toledo head coach Jason Candle.

• Graduated from Mount Union in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sports management.