BYU has a new offensive coordinator!
How did we get here, according to KSL.com?
Former Cougar offensive line coach Jeff Grimes was announced Thursday morning as the program’s next offensive coordinator, replacing Ty Detmer after going 13-13 in two seasons as offensive coordinator.
“Jeff has great leadership ability and outstanding experience mentoring young men at the highest levels of college football,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said in a statement. “He has vast experience working with exceptional coaches and programs during his career, including here at BYU, and we welcome his return to Provo to oversee our offense.”
The hire was first reported Wednesday by Football Scoop and the Baton Rouge Advocate.
A 1991 graduate of Texas-El Paso, Grimes has 25 years of coaching experience, including 10 years as an assistant head coach and run game coordinator. He has been the offensive line coach at Louisiana State since 2014 when he arrived after a one-year stay at Virginia Tech.
Grimes will coach at LSU through Jan. 1, splitting time between the Cougars and Tigers until after the Citrus Bowl against Notre Dame, according to LSU beat writer Ross Dellenger.
“I recognize that with this position comes a great deal of responsibility to all of Cougar Nation,” Grimes said. “I not only welcome this but consider it a privilege. My family and I are looking forward to returning to Utah and are ripe with anticipation for many great Saturdays in the fall in LaVell Edwards Stadium.”
The 49-year-old native of Garland, Texas, also coached at Colorado, Arizona State, Auburn, Boise State, Texas A&M, Rice and Hardin-Simmons during his well-traveled tenure. He was the offensive line coach for the Cougars from 2004-06 and was one of the few position coaches retained by newly promoted head coach Bronco Mendenhall when Gary Crowton resigned following the 2004 season.
The 2004 BYU team finished fourth in the nation in total offense, averaging 465.5 yards and 36.6 points per game en route to an 11-2 record, a Mountain West championship and the No. 15 ranking in the final Associated Press poll.
“I’m excited to see what Jeff brings with him,” said former BYU quarterback John Beck, who played quarterback at BYU from 2003-06. “I had the opportunity to have Jeff as a coach for three of my four years, and he did such a fantastic job. I know offensive linemen have always held him in high regard. They loved him as a coach, the standard that he held them to, and they appreciate him a lot.
“I’m excited to see what Jeff is going to bring back to Provo as he comes back. He’s a great man, and does a lot of things right.”
After the 2006 season, then-Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins lured Grimes away from Provo to become Colorado’s offensive line coach, run game coordinator and assistant head coach.
Grimes also spent time at Auburn from 2009-12, leading the offensive line to the 2010 BCS championship under then-head coach Gene Chizik.
During his time in Baton Rouge, Grimes helped lead a resurgence on the offensive line. The Tigers had two linemen drafted in the NFL from 2007-13, but doubled that mark in three drafts under Grimes, including center Ethan Pocic, who went in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft to the Seattle Seahawks.
In all, Grimes’ linemen have been tapped to all-Southeastern Conference teams seven times and helped pave the way for three-straight 1,000-yard rushers, including current Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Leonard Fournette.
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