# Alex Grinch > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Alex_Grinch > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Alex_Grinch.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Grinch > Source revision: 1340955619 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1980)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox college coach | name = Alex Grinch | image = | alt = | caption = | current_title = [Defensive coordinator](/source/Defensive_coordinator)
[Safeties](/source/Safety_(gridiron_football_position)) coach | current_team = [UCF](/source/UCF_Knights_football) | current_conference = [Big 12](/source/Big_12_Conference) | contract = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|5|29}} | birth_place = [Grove City, Ohio](/source/Grove_City%2C_Ohio), U.S. | death_place = | player_years1 = 1998–2001 | player_team1 = [Mount Union](/source/Mount_Union_Purple_Raiders_football) | player_positions = [Strong safety](/source/Strong_safety){{Cite web |title=Mount Union College Football |url=http://oxygen.muc.edu/athletics/athletics/football/playerbios.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020115183038/http://oxygen.muc.edu/athletics/athletics/football/playerbios.htm |archive-date=January 15, 2002 |access-date=January 15, 2002}} | coach_years1 = 2002–2004 | coach_team1 = [Missouri](/source/Missouri_Tigers_football) (GA){{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/wsu-cougar-football/first-time-defensive-coordinator-alex-grinch-seeking-higher-standard-from-wsu/ |title=First-time defensive coordinator Alex Grinch seeking higher standard from WSU |url-access=subscription |work=[The Seattle Times](/source/The_Seattle_Times) |date=2015-08-26 |accessdate=2021-09-19 |first1=Stephanie |last1=Loh}} | coach_years2 = 2005–2006 | coach_team2 = [New Hampshire](/source/New_Hampshire_Wildcats_football) (CB) | coach_years3 = 2007–2008 | coach_team3 = New Hampshire (DB/RC) | coach_years4 = 2009–2011 | coach_team4 = [Wyoming](/source/Wyoming_Cowboys_football) (DB/RC) | coach_years5 = 2012–2014 | coach_team5 = [Missouri](/source/Missouri_Tigers_football) (S) | coach_years6 = 2015–2017 | coach_team6 = [Washington State](/source/Washington_State_Cougars_football) (DC/S) | coach_years7 = 2018 | coach_team7 = [Ohio State](/source/Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football) (co-DC/S) | coach_years8 = 2019–2021 | coach_team8 = [Oklahoma](/source/Oklahoma_Sooners_football) (DC) | coach_years9 = 2022–2023 | coach_team9 = [USC](/source/USC_Trojans_football) (DC) | coach_years10 = 2024 | coach_team10 = [Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin_Badgers_football) (co-DC/S) | coach_years11 = 2025–present | coach_team11 = [UCF](/source/UCF_Knights_football) (DC/S) | overall_record = | bowl_record = | tournament_record = | championships = ; As an assistant coach *2x [Big 12](/source/Big_12_Conference) ([2019](/source/2019_Oklahoma_Sooners_football_team), [2020](/source/2020_Oklahoma_Sooners_football_team)) *1x [Big Ten](/source/Big_Ten_Conference) ([2018](/source/2018_Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football_team)) *2x [SEC East Division](/source/Southeastern_Conference) ([2013](/source/2013_Missouri_Tigers_football_team), [2014](/source/2014_Missouri_Tigers_football_team)) ; As a player *3x [NCAA Division III Football Championship](/source/NCAA_Division_III_Football_Championship) (1998, 2000, 2001) | awards = | coaching_records = }} '''Alexander Gregory Grinch''' (born May 29, 1980) is an American [college football](/source/college_football) coach who is the [defensive coordinator](/source/defensive_coordinator) for [UCF](/source/UCF_Knights_football). He previously served as the [defensive coordinator](/source/defensive_coordinator) at [Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin_Badgers_football), [USC](/source/USC_Trojans_football), [Oklahoma](/source/Oklahoma_Sooners_football), [Ohio State](/source/Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football) and [Washington State](/source/Washington_State_Cougars_football). Grinch also coached the [secondary](/source/Defensive_back) at [Missouri](/source/University_of_Missouri), [New Hampshire](/source/University_of_New_Hampshire) and [Wyoming](/source/University_of_Wyoming). Grinch is a four-time nominee for the [Broyles Award](/source/Broyles_Award) and was a semifinalist in 2017 and 2019. In all, Grinch has coached two dozen NFL draft picks and 40+ student-athletes who went on to the professional ranks.{{Cite web |date=November 26, 2019 |title=Grinch Named Broyles Award Semifinalist |url=https://soonersports.com/news/2019/11/26/football-grinch-named-broyles-award-semifinalist |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=University of Oklahoma |language=en}} ==Playing career== Grinch played [defensive back](/source/defensive_back) at [Mount Union College](/source/University_of_Mount_Union) from 1998 to 2001.{{Cite web|url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/alex-grinch-joins-ohio-state-coaching-staff/|title=Alex Grinch Joins Ohio State Coaching Staff|date=January 8, 2018|website=Ohio State Buckeyes}} During that time, Mount Union amassed a record of 54–1 and won three [NCAA Division III Football Championship](/source/NCAA_Division_III_Football_Championship)s. Grinch graduated from Mount Union in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in sport management.{{Cite web |title=Official Site of UNH Athletics - Football |url=http://www.unhwildcats.com/football/coaches/grinch.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060806184001/http://www.unhwildcats.com/football/coaches/grinch.shtml |archive-date=August 6, 2006 |access-date=August 6, 2006}} ==Coaching career== ===Missouri=== From 2002 to 2004, Grinch was a graduate assistant under [Gary Pinkel](/source/Gary_Pinkel) at the [University of Missouri](/source/Missouri_Tigers_football), and he completed his master's degree in educational leadership and policy analysis at Missouri in 2004. ===New Hampshire=== Grinch's first regular assistant coaching job was at Division I-AA [New Hampshire](/source/New_Hampshire_Wildcats_football) under [Sean McDonnell](/source/Sean_McDonnell). In 2005 and 2006, Grinch was the cornerbacks coach. After a promotion, Grinch became the recruiting coordinator and coached the entire defensive secondary in 2007 and 2008. [Chip Kelly](/source/Chip_Kelly) was the OC at New Hampshire and Grinch learned the value of practicing fast from competing against him every day. Grinch mentored [Corey Graham](/source/Corey_Graham) who would set school honors and was drafted in 5th round of [2007 NFL draft](/source/2007_NFL_draft). Safety [Étienne Boulay](/source/%C3%89tienne_Boulay) was drafted 16th in the [2006 CFL draft](/source/2006_CFL_draft) and later received the CFL's [Frank M. Gibson Trophy](/source/Frank_M._Gibson_Trophy) for most outstanding rookie.{{Cite web|url=http://wyomingathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/grinch_alex00.html|title=WYOMING OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE – Football|date=March 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323073331/http://wyomingathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/grinch_alex00.html|archive-date=March 23, 2009}} ===Wyoming=== Grinch spent three seasons at Wyoming as the recruiting coordinator and coaching the [secondary](/source/Defensive_back). He coached cornerback [Marqueston Huff](/source/Marqueston_Huff) and safety [Chris Prosinski](/source/Chris_Prosinski) both were drafted into 4th round of NFL. [Tashaun Gipson](/source/Tashaun_Gipson) would become a future NFL [Pro Bowl](/source/Pro_Bowl) safety. ===Missouri (second stint)=== Again working under Pinkel, Grinch coached the secondary and safeties at Missouri from 2012 to 2014. In 2013, they finished 11–1 season and their first-ever [SEC Eastern Division](/source/Southeastern_Conference) title. However, they lost to [Auburn](/source/2013_Auburn_Tigers_football_team) in the [SEC Championship Game](/source/2013_SEC_Championship_Game). Missouri would go onto winning the [2014 Cotton Bowl Classic](/source/2014_Cotton_Bowl_Classic) against [Oklahoma State](/source/2013_Oklahoma_State_Cowboys_football_team). In 2014, they clinched another SEC Division title but would lose to [Alabama](/source/2014_Alabama_Crimson_Tide_football_team) in the [2014 SEC Championship Game](/source/2014_SEC_Championship_Game). Defensiveback [E. J. Gaines](/source/E._J._Gaines) would later go onto getting drafted in [2014 NFL draft](/source/2014_NFL_draft). ===Washington State=== From 2015 to 2017, Grinch was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at [Washington State](/source/Washington_State_Cougars_football) under [Mike Leach](/source/Mike_Leach_(American_football_coach)){{Cite web|url=https://www.cougcenter.com/wsu-cougars-football/2015/1/14/7547365/wsu-defensive-coordinator-alex-grinch-cougars-football|title=Everything we know about WSU's new DC Alex Grinch|first=Mark|last=Sandritter|date=January 14, 2015|website=CougCenter}} [Hercules Mata'afa](/source/Hercules_Mata'afa) was named Consensus [All-American](/source/College_Football_All-America_Team) ([2017](/source/2017_College_Football_All-America_Team)) and the [Pac-12](/source/Pac-12) Defensive Player of The Year (2017). He coached several NFL players including: [Daniel Ekuale](/source/Daniel_Ekuale), [Frankie Luvu](/source/Frankie_Luvu) (All-Pro), [Hercules Mata'afa](/source/Hercules_Mata'afa) and [Destiny Vaeao](/source/Destiny_Vaeao). Which included three NFL Draft picks: [Xavier Cooper](/source/Xavier_Cooper) (3rd round), [Jalen Thompson](/source/Jalen_Thompson) (5th round), and [Shalom Luani](/source/Shalom_Luani) (7th round). ===Ohio State=== In January 2018, Grinch joined [Urban Meyer](/source/Urban_Meyer)'s staff at [Ohio State](/source/Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football) as co-defensive coordinator. The Buckeyes won the [Big Ten](/source/2018_Big_Ten_Football_Championship_Game) and [Rose Bowl](/source/2019_Rose_Bowl) that season. Three Buckeyes were NFL Draft picks during his tenure: [Nick Bosa](/source/Nick_Bosa) (2nd overall pick), [Dre'Mont Jones](/source/Dre'Mont_Jones) (3rd round), and [Kendall Sheffield](/source/Kendall_Sheffield) (4th round).{{Cite web |date=2018-01-05 |title=Alex Grinch Joining Ohio State Staff, Already Listed in OSU Directory |url=https://theozone.net/2018/01/alex-grinch-joining-ohio-state-staff-already-listed-osu-directory/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=The-Ozone |language=en-US}} ===Oklahoma=== In January 2019, Grinch joined [Lincoln Riley](/source/Lincoln_Riley)'s staff at [Oklahoma](/source/Oklahoma_Sooners_football) as defensive coordinator.{{Cite web |last=Barnett |first=Zach |title=Oklahoma hires Alex Grinch as defensive coordinator |url=https://footballscoop.com/news/report-alex-grinch-expected-next-oklahoma-defensive-coordinator |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=Footballscoop |date=January 4, 2019 |language=en}} He spent three years with the Sooners and was able to help turnaround defense that finished 101st in scoring defense and 130th in passing defense, under former defensive coordinator [Mike Stoops](/source/Mike_Stoops), who would be fired after giving up 48 points to rival Texas. In 2019, their defense allowed the fewest yards per game, ranking 20th. Oklahoma won the [Big 12 championship](/source/2019_Big_12_Championship_Game) and advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals in the [Peach Bowl](/source/2019_Peach_Bowl). Ten Oklahoma defensive players were NFL Draft picks during his tenure: [Kenneth Murray](/source/Kenneth_Murray_(American_football)) (1st round, 23rd overall), [Nik Bonitto](/source/Nik_Bonitto) (2nd round), [Brian Asamoah](/source/Brian_Asamoah) (3rd round), [Neville Gallimore](/source/Neville_Gallimore) (3rd round), [Ronnie Perkins](/source/Ronnie_Perkins) (3rd round), [Tre Brown](/source/Tre_Brown) (4th round), [Perrion Winfrey](/source/Perrion_Winfrey) (4th round), [Delarrin Turner-Yell](/source/Delarrin_Turner-Yell) (5th round), [Tre Norwood](/source/Tre_Norwood) (7th round), and [Isaiah Thomas](/source/Isaiah_Thomas_(American_football)) (7th round). He coached several other NFL players at his time at Oklahoma which included: [Billy Bowman Jr.](/source/Billy_Bowman_Jr.), [Jaden Davis](/source/Jaden_Davis), [Ethan Downs](/source/Ethan_Downs), [Parnell Motley](/source/Parnell_Motley), [Jalen Redmond](/source/Jalen_Redmond), [Danny Stutsman](/source/Danny_Stutsman) and [DaShaun White](/source/DaShaun_White). ===USC=== In November 2021, Grinch followed Riley after he was hired to be the next head coach at [USC](/source/USC_Trojans_football), serving in the same capacity as before.{{Cite web |last=Engelbrecht |first=Chandler |date=November 28, 2021 |title=OU football: Sooners defensive coordinator Alex Grinch to join Lincoln Riley at USC, per ESPN |url= https://www.oudaily.com/sports/ou-football-sooners-defensive-coordinator-alex-grinch-to-join-lincoln-riley-at-usc-per-espn/article_02f6d91a-50d4-11ec-88d2-bf1d27a00c94.html |access-date=November 28, 2021 |website=OU Daily}} At USC he inherited a Trojan defensive roster that in 2021 finished as one of the worst units statistically in program history, ranking 103rd in scoring defense and well below average in all other categories.{{Cite web |last=Grosbard |first=Adam |date=2022-08-30 |title=Can the USC defense make the 2021 season a distant memory? |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2022/08/30/can-the-usc-defense-make-the-2021-season-a-distant-memory |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}} In his first year at USC, in 2022, the Trojans had the nation's best turnover margin. This marked a huge improvement over 2021, when the Trojans were ranked 74th in the country in the same category.  The Trojans focused extensively on turnovers, ranking third in the country with interceptions from a dozen different players. [Tuli Tuipulotu](/source/Tuli_Tuipulotu) was named the [Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year](/source/Pat_Tillman_Defensive_Player_of_the_Year) and [unanimous All-American](/source/unanimous_All-American) in 2022. They finished the season 11–3, losing to [Utah](/source/2022_Utah_Utes_football_team) in the [Pac-12 championship game](/source/2022_Pac-12_Football_Championship_Game), eliminating them from national championship playoff consideration. [Mekhi Blackmon](/source/Mekhi_Blackmon) was named All-America and drafted in the 3rd round of [2023 NFL draft](/source/2023_NFL_draft). After a promising start with USC, the 2023 Trojan defense would later allow 293 points over the next seven game stretch and fell to 7–3. Of these seven games, opponents scored over 41 points five times. On November 5, 2023, Grinch was fired as USC's defensive coordinator.{{Cite news |last=Beachem |first=Greg |date=2023-11-05 |title=USC fires defensive coordinator Alex Grinch with 2 games left in regular season |language=en |work=[Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press) |url=https://apnews.com/article/usc-alex-grinch-fired-lincoln-riley-047c4d7af796d6870338ff4ac5e29c95 |access-date=2023-11-05}} He coached several NFL players at his time at USC which included: [Ralen Goforth](/source/Ralen_Goforth), [Shane Lee](/source/Shane_Lee_(American_football)), [Brandon Pili](/source/Brandon_Pili), [Jaylin Smith](/source/Jaylin_Smith) and [Christian Roland-Wallace](/source/Christian_Roland-Wallace). Including four NFL draft picks: [Tuli Tuipulotu](/source/Tuli_Tuipulotu) (2nd round), [Calen Bullock](/source/Calen_Bullock) (3rd round), [Mekhi Blackmon](/source/Mekhi_Blackmon) (3rd round), [Solomon Byrd](/source/Solomon_Byrd) (7th round).{{Cite web |title=USC Trojans 2023 Regular Season NCAAF Schedule |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/30 |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=ESPN |language=en}} ===Wisconsin=== In February 2024, Grinch joined [Luke Fickell](/source/Luke_Fickell)'s staff at [Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin_Badgers_football) as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. The secondary thrived and ranked #14th in country of passing yards allowed.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-01 |title=Badgers add Alex Grinch to defensive staff |url=https://uwbadgers.com/news/2024/2/1/football-badgers-add-grinch-to-defensive-staff.aspx |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Uwbadgers.com |language=en-US}} === UCF === In December 2024, Grinch was announced as [UCF](/source/UCF_Knights_football)'s defensive coordinator following the hire of [Scott Frost](/source/Scott_Frost).{{cite web | last=Flood | first=Evan | title=Report: Alex Grinch to Join UCF as Defensive Coordinator | website=247Sports | date=2024-12-17 | url=https://247sports.com/college/wisconsin/article/alex-grinch-to-leave-wisconsin-badgers-football-for-ucf-knights-242306435/ | access-date=2025-10-21}} ==Personal life== Grinch grew up in [Grove City, Ohio](/source/Grove_City%2C_Ohio) and graduated from [Grove City High School](/source/Grove_City_High_School). In 2003, he married Rebecca Blaser. They have two children.{{Cite web |title=Alex Grinch |url=http://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/coach/alex-grinch/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214070307/http://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/coach/alex-grinch/ |archive-date=December 14, 2018 |access-date=December 10, 2018 |website=OhioStateBuckeyes.com |publisher=Ohio State University}} He is the nephew of longtime Missouri head coach [Gary Pinkel](/source/Gary_Pinkel), under whom Grinch worked as a graduate assistant and safeties coach.{{Cite web |last=Rabinowitz |first=Bill |date=January 13, 2018 |title=Alex Grinch makes presence felt as defensive coach |url=https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20180113/ohio-state-football--alex-grinch-makes-presence-felt-as-defensive-coach |access-date=December 14, 2018 |website=The Columbus Dispatch}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [https://usctrojans.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/alex-grinch/5459 USC profile] * [https://soonersports.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/alex-grinch/496 Oklahoma profile] * [https://wsucougars.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/alex-grinch/205 Washington State profile] * [https://ucfknights.com/sports/football/roster/season/2025/staff/alex-grinch UCF profile] {{1998 Mount Union Purple Raiders football navbox}} {{2000 Mount Union Purple Raiders football navbox}} {{2001 Mount Union Purple Raiders football navbox}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Grinch, Alex}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:American football safeties Category:Missouri Tigers football coaches Category:Mount Union Purple Raiders football players Category:New Hampshire Wildcats football coaches Category:Ohio State Buckeyes football coaches Category:Oklahoma Sooners football coaches Category:UCF Knights football coaches Category:USC Trojans football coaches Category:Washington State Cougars football coaches Category:Wyoming Cowboys football coaches Category:University of Missouri alumni Category:People from Grove City, Ohio Category:Players of American football from Franklin County, Ohio Category:Coaches of American football from Ohio Category:Players of American football from Columbus, Ohio --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Alex Grinch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Grinch) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Grinch?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.