Alex Grinch gets chance to revive career as UCF defensive coordinator

Scott Frost is well acquainted with Alex Grinchs coaching journey.

Both have navigated the peaks of high expectations and the valleys of considerable career setbacks.So, when Frost sought to assemble a coaching staff capable of revitalizing UCFs defense, Grinch emerged as a compelling candidate.

His experience and understanding of leading a defensive unit made him an ideal choice for defensive coordinator.I can relate to Alexs career, Frost said during the teams media day.

At one time, he was probably the hottest defensive coordinator in the country, and he went to another place where it didnt go quite as well, and I dont think that was necessarily all his fault.The biggest thing for me was just the personality fit.

Sometimes youre successful in this business and sometimes it doesnt go the way you want.

Sometimes its your fault.

Sometimes its not.Grinch, 44, has been through it all in his more than two decades of coaching.He started his career as a graduate assistant at Missouri under Hall of Fame coach Gary Pinkel before moving up the ranks, including stops at New Hampshire, Wyoming, Washington State and Ohio State.Will UCFast make comeback, or will Scott Frost introduce new offensive strategy?Grinch joined Lincoln Rileys coaching staff at Oklahoma in 2019 and spent three seasons with the Sooners.

He followed Riley to USC in 22 but was fired a season later as the Trojans defense ranked near the bottom of the Football Bowl Subdivision each season.His last stop was co-defensive coordinator at Wisconsin, where the Badgers ranked in the top 45 in scoring defense (42 points per game) and total defense (343 yards).There are experiences you have, and in both cases, by and large, they were very positive, Grinch said of his coaching tour.

Then there are other times when you dont get the results that you want in the time that youre allotted.

So you take those and focus on what you believe worked, and then ultimately adapt them to every situation youre in.Said Frost: What I know Im getting is a good guy thats been around a lot of football and has been successful.

He has a chip on his shoulder to take advantage of another opportunity, which parallels my career, making us a good fit together.Grinchs best season was in 2020 when Oklahoma finished in the top 30 in scoring and total defense.

Otherwise, his defenses have finished in the middle of the pack in FBS.Hes always emphasized speed and versatility wherever he has coached, something hes learned under coaches such as Pinkel, Mike Leach, Urban Meyer and Riley.

While at New Hampshire, he coached next to former Oregon coach Chip Kelly, who also worked with Frost during his time with the Ducks.UCF heads to Oklahoma State eager to end worst losing streak in 9 yearsIt starts with mutual respect, Grinch said of working with Frost.

In this business, sometimes you get an opportunity to work with individuals or guys that have worked with or for someone over time, and then there are other guys youve competed against.

In this particular instance, its all those wrapped into one.According to Grinch, the Knights will primarily run a 4-3 defensive scheme, but it will shift to 3-4 when needed.Its an effort-based defense.

Our job is to put the guys in the best situation possible so theyll see results if they give us maximum effort, said Grinch.UCF returns approximately 30 players from last season, led by starters Nyjalik Kelly (edge) and Malachi Lawrence (edge), alongside defensive backs Chasen Johnson and Braeden Marshall.

The Knights also added 18 newcomers, most from the transfer portal.You have to be multiple, especially in this day and age of college football, said Grinch.

Whos on your roster today may not be whos on your roster at the end of spring so you have to be able to adapt.

Ultimately, I try to find the best 11 guys to put on the field and ultimately develop those guys over time.Matt Murschel can be reached at [email protected].

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