Cougars Name Alex Grinch Defensive Coordinator

 

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University Head Football Coach Mike Leach announced Wednesday that Alex Grinch has been named WSU’s defensive coordinator and will coach the secondary.

 

“We are excited to have Alex part of our football family,” said Leach. “He is a passionate, tireless worker who brings tremendous excitement and aggression to our team. He has a track record of developing young talent which will be of great benefit to our defense.

 

“He is highly regarded in the coaching field and has a very bright future,” Leach continued. “We are very fortunate to have Alex at Washington State University.”

 

Grinch spent the last three seasons at Missouri where he coached safeties, helping Missouri to a 23-5 record over the past two years, two SEC East Division titles, a Citrus Bowl victory over Minnesota earlier this month and a Cotton Bowl victory over Oklahoma State in 2014.

 

“I’m excited to join the Washington State football program and thank Coach Leach for the opportunity,” said Grinch. “It’s time to get to work to produce a defense that Cougar fans can be proud of!”

 

Grinch’s safeties played a key role in Missouri’s defensive improvement in 2014, as they combined to grab six of the Tigers’ 12 interceptions on the year - led by senior SS Braylon Webb’s team-high four picks. Webb earned Second-Team All-SEC honors for his 2014 season which included 69 tackles.

 

The 2013 season saw improved play from the Tiger safeties, which helped Missouri’s defense be one of the most disruptive units in the country and earn the first of two-straight SEC East Division titles. Grinch’s safeties combined for five interceptions, including three from Webb, who ranked second on the team with 89 tackles and seven pass break ups. 

                

Grinch’s first year at Missouri saw him get solid play from his starting safeties Kenronte Walker and Webb. Walker finished the 2012 season with 71 tackles (fifth on the team) and won the first-ever SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors for a Tiger player.

 

“He’s the real deal!” said Chip Kelly, who was the offensive coordinator on the same New Hampshire staff as Grinch in 2005-06. “He’s intelligent, articulate and has an unbelievable work ethic. He is one of the best teachers I’ve been around.”

 

Prior to Missouri, Grinch spent three seasons coaching the Wyoming secondary. Three of his Cowboy defensive backs earned postseason honors in 2011, as Wyoming reached a bowl game for the second time in his three years in Laramie. Wyoming concluded the 2011 regular season ranked No. 34 in the nation in pass defense, allowing only 202.2 yards passing per game, and ranked No. 1 in the Mountain West and tied for No. 5 in the NCAA in most turnovers gained (31 total).

 

During his time in Laramie, Grinch coached two Freshman All-Americans, six All-Mountain West Conference recipients and five MWC All-Academic honorees. Two of his players, Chris Prosinski and Tashaun Gipson, remain in the NFL with Prosinski being a fourth round-round selection by Jacksonville in 2011 and Gipson spending the past three seasons with Cleveland, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2014.

 

Grinch coached at New Hampshire for four seasons from 2005-08. In his first two seasons he coached the cornerbacks before being promoted to secondary coach and recruiting coordinator for the 2007-08 seasons. At UNH the Wildcats posted a combined 37-13 record and reached the FCS playoffs four times, including three quarterfinal appearances and a No. 7 ranking in the final FCS Coaches’ Poll of 2008. He coached four players to a total of six all-conference honors, including cornerback Corey Graham, who was a fifth-round selection 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 administrative graduate assistant at Missouri for the 2002 season. 

 

Grinch enjoyed an outstanding college playing career at Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio. He was a member of three NCAA Division III National Championship teams at Mount Union in 1998, 2000 and 2001. Over his four-year career, Grinch’s Mount Union teams posted a 54-1 record and won four-consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference Championships. His senior season of 2001, he was named a Third Team All-America safety by D3football.com and a First Team Academic All-Conference selection.

 

Grinch and his wife, Rebecca, have two children, a son, Tyler, and a daughter, Corbi.

 

 

 

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