Alex Grinch is the defensive coordinator for the UCF Knights.
22 Facts About Alex Grinch
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Alex Grinch previously served as the defensive coordinator at Wisconsin, USC, Oklahoma, Ohio State and Washington State.
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Alex Grinch is a four-time nominee for the Broyles Award and was a semifinalist in 2017 and 2019.
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Alex Grinch played defensive back at Mount Union College from 1998 to 2001.
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Alex Grinch graduated from Mount Union in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in sport management.
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From 2002 to 2004, Alex Grinch was a graduate assistant under Gary Pinkel at the University of Missouri, and he completed his master's degree in educational leadership and policy analysis at Missouri in 2004.
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Chip Kelly was the OC at New Hampshire and Alex Grinch learned the value of practicing fast from competing against him every day.
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Alex Grinch spent three seasons at Wyoming as the recruiting coordinator and coaching the secondary.
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Alex Grinch coached cornerback Marqueston Huff who was drafted into 4th round of NFL and Tashaun Gipson would become a future NFL Pro Bowl safety.
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Again working under Pinkel, Alex Grinch coached the secondary and safeties at Missouri from 2012 to 2014.
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From 2015 to 2017, Alex Grinch was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Washington State under Mike Leach Hercules Mata'afa was named Consensus All-American and the Pac-12 Defensive Player of The Year.
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Alex Grinch coached several NFL players including: Jalen Thompson, Daniel Ekuale, Frankie Luvu, Hercules Mata'afa, Destiny Vaeao, Xavier Cooper, and Shalom Luani.
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In January 2018, Alex Grinch joined Urban Meyer's staff at Ohio State as co-defensive coordinator.
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In January 2019, Alex Grinch joined Lincoln Riley's staff at Oklahoma as defensive coordinator.
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Alex Grinch 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, who would be fired after giving up 48 points to rival Texas.
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In November 2021, Alex Grinch followed Riley after he was hired to be the next head coach at USC, serving in the same capacity as before.
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On November 5,2023, Alex Grinch was fired as USC's defensive coordinator.
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Alex Grinch coached several NFL players at his time at USC which included: Calen Bullock, Mekhi Blackmon, Solomon Byrd, Ralen Goforth, Shane Lee, Brandon Pili, Tuli Tuipulotu and Christian Roland-Wallace.
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In February 2024, Alex Grinch joined Luke Fickell's staff at Wisconsin as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
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In December 2024, Alex Grinch was announced as UCF's defensive coordinator following the hire of Scott Frost.
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Alex Grinch grew up in Grove City, Ohio and graduated from Grove City High School.
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Alex Grinch is the nephew of longtime Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel, under whom Grinch worked as a graduate assistant and safeties coach.