Alex Grinch, co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State, has been hired as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma by Coach Lincoln Riley.

Grinch, a 2017 semi-finalist for the Broyles Award (for the best assistant coach in the nation), will be called on to fix OU’s porous defense. Grinch was the defensive coordinator and second coach at Washington State for four years under Coach Mike Leach.

The Cougars were 99th nationally in total defense the year before Grinch arrived and rose to 16th in total defense his first year. In 2017, WSU allowed only 11 touchdown passes – fifth best in the country.

“He’s been one of the most sought-after guys in the country here the last couple of years, especially for the work that he did at Washington State,” Riley said. “Taking that defense where he did in a short amount of time is one of the best coaching jobs in the country over the last several years.”

Grinch jumped at the chance to revive OU’s leaky defense.

“This is a unique opportunity at one of the premier institutions under elite leadership,” said Grinch. “Oklahoma is in the top one percent. There’s no faking it in this business. You’re either it or you’re not. Oklahoma is one of those programs.”

Grinch coached at Ohio State, Washington State, Missouri, Wyoming and New Hampshire.

“(My) scheme is designed to let players play fast,” he said. “It’s a downhill approach. We work into gaps in our front and speed is our calling card. Today’s offenses are built on space and speed. You have to combat that with speed of your own. With speed on defense, it affords you the opportunity to run a multiplicity of coverages and fronts.

“I have great respect for the Big 12,” said Grinch. “The offenses are explosive. To a degree, that same approach has become America’s offense. Offenses now feature run-pass options combined with tempo. That’s the challenge we face and we look forward to meeting it.”

Grinch helped Missouri to a Cotton Bowl win over Oklahoma State in 2014. Grinch is the nephew of former Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel.