Oklahoma has named former Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Alex Grinch to the same position, the school announced Friday.
Grinch spent the 2018 season in Columbus, Ohio as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Buckeyes, who went 13-1 — including a 28-23 victory in the Rose Bowl over Washington.
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"Alex has an outstanding track record as a defensive coach and a defensive coordinator," Sooners coach Lincoln Riley said in a statement. "He's been one of the most sought-after guys in the country here the last couple of years."
Assistant head coach and defensive tackles coach Ruffin McNeil served as Oklahoma's defensive coordinator for a majority of the season after the Sooners fired previous defensive coordinator Mark Stoops in October following their loss to Texas.
Grinch inherits an Oklahoma defense that struggled mightily last season. The Sooners ranked 129th out of 130 teams in passing yards per game (294.0), 108th in total yards per game (453.8), 96th in points per game (32.4) and tied for 120th in turnovers forced (11). Ohio State's defense in 2018 ranked 55th in scoring defense (25.7 ppg), 68th in total defense (400 ypg), 83rd in pass defense (239.8 ypg) and 61st in rush defense (160.5) under Grinch.
Before he was at Ohio State, Grinch spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Washington State. He also has stops at Missouri, Wyoming and New Hampshire. Grinch played collegiately at Mount Union.