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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Washington State defensive coordinator Alex Grinch one of 15 semifinalists for Broyles Award

WSU defensive coordinator Alex Grinch was named one of 15 semifinalists for the Broyles Award on Tuesday. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Washington State’s defensive coordinator is up for the award given to the best assistant coach in college football.

On Tuesday, the Frank and Barbara Broyles Foundation named Alex Grinch named one of 15 semifinalists for the Broyles Award. The award has been given annually the nation’s top aid since 1966.

The Cougars have always posted eye-popping numbers on offense thanks to Mike Leach’s potent Air Raid system, but Grinch, in his third season, has transformed WSU’s defense into one of the nation’s best.

Entering Saturday’s Apple Cup, the Cougars are ranked No. 11 nationally in total defense and allowing just 303.8 yards of offense per game. They lead the Power Five conferences in tackles-for-loss with 94 and are tied for third in the FBS with 27 turnovers. Seven of those came in WSU’s last game – a 33-25 win over Utah. WSU is sixth nationally in sacks (36) and has posted two shutouts in a season for the first time since 1981.

When Grinch arrived in 2015, he inherited a defense that had forced just eight turnovers in 2014. That number improved to 24 in 2015, 23 in 2016 and 27 this season. The Cougars have also improved in points allowed, rushing and passing defense and total defens since Grinch came to WSU from Missouri.

Five finalists for the Broyles Award will be selected and the winner will be announced on Dec. 5 at the Marriott Hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The other semifinalists include Alabama OC Brian Daboll, Auburn DC Kevin Steele, Clemson Co-OC Tony Elliot, Georgia DC Mel Tucker, Iowa State DC Jon Heahock, Miami DC Manny Diaz, Mississippi State DC Todd Grantham, Notre Dame, DC Mike Elko, Oklahoma OC Bill Bedenbaugh, TCU DC Chad Glasgow, USC OC Troy Walters, USC OC Tee Martin, Washington DC Pete Kwiatkowski and Wisconsin DC Jim Leonhard.