Alex Grinch begins his third season after being named the defensive coordinator in January, 2015. In addition to his defensive coordinator role, Grinch coaches the secondary.
The Cougar defense continued to make strides in year two under Grinch, improving in scoring defense and total defense for the second straight season. Grinch was also a Broyles Award Nominee (given to the nation's top assistant) for the second consecutive year. In 2016, WSU posted the third-best rushing defense (134.2 ypg) in the Pac-12 Conference, the lowest rushing average allowed by a Cougar defense since 2006, and tied for the fourth-most turnovers forced (23) in the league. Grinch saw three members of his defense earn All-Pac-12 honors led by first-team defensive back Shalom Luani while safety Jalen Thompson garnered True Freshman All-American honors from ESPN.com, the second straight season WSU had a player named to a freshman All-American team (Hercules Mata’afa in 2015). Luani was also a seventh-round selection by the Oakland Raiders in the 2017 NFL Draft.
The Washington State defense saw rapid improvement in 2015 under Grinch who was a Broyles Award Nominee (given to the nation’s top assistant). The Cougars’ defensive unit allowed an average of 27.6 ppg, a marked improvement over 2014 which surrendered 38.6 ppg (114th). By removing special teams touchdowns allowed, the Cougar defense allowed opponents just 23.4 ppg. WSU allowed 416.2 ypg (84th), compared to 442.3 ypg (97th) in 2014. The biggest difference may be in turnovers as the Cougar defense forced 24 turnovers in 2015 (T-34th). The 2014 defense forced just eight (124th) all season. Of those turnovers, WSU improved from three interceptions in 2014 to 13 in 2015. Backed primarily by its defense, WSU’s turnover margin improved from -1.42 in 2014 (123rd) to -0.08 this year (T-75th). WSU made a huge jump in tackles-for-loss, averaging 7.8 per game (8th), after the Cougar defense managed 6.4 (T-44th) in 2014. WSU had five players that recorded 10-plus TFLs on the season, tied for the most in school history (2002) while no other Pac-12 school had more than two. Seniors Darryl Paulo and Destiny Vaeao were named All-Pac-12 Second Team, while Hercules Mata’afa was named a First-Team Freshman All-American by USA Today.
Additionally, five players received All-Pac-12 recognition with defensive linemen Darryl Paulo and Destiny Vaeao garnering second-team honors, while Shalom Luani, Hercules Mata’afa and Peyton Pelluer were named honorable mention. The previous two seasons WSU had a combined three defensive players each all-Pac-12 honors.
Grinch spent three seasons (2012-14) at Missouri where he coached safeties, helping Missouri to a 23-5 record over his last two years, two SEC East Division titles, a Citrus Bowl victory over Minnesota and a Cotton Bowl victory over Oklahoma State in 2014.
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. 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.
Prior to Missouri, Grinch spent three seasons at Wyoming as the recruiting coordinator while also coaching the 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 passing ypg, 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 spendingfour seasons with Cleveland, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2014, and with Miami in 2016.
Grinch coached at New Hampshire from 2005-08. In his first two seasons he coached the cornerbacks before being promoted to secondary coach and recruiting coordinator for in 2007. At UNH the Wildcats 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.
