Orlando, Florida — Alex Grinch is stepping back into the role of defensive coordinator as he joins the coaching staff of new UCF head coach Scott Frost, following a season spent mentoring safeties at Wisconsin.

UCF confirmed Grinch’s hiring on Tuesday, marking a significant reshuffle in the coaching ranks.

Throughout his career, Grinch has held several prominent positions in defensive coaching, notably serving as a defensive coordinator at Washington State from 2015 to 2017, at Oklahoma between 2019 and 2021, and more recently at Southern California from 2022 until partway through the current season.

In addition, he was involved as a safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State in 2018, and he also carried co-defensive coordinator responsibilities at Wisconsin this year.

Grinch has been recognized for his abilities, having been named a semifinalist for the Broyles Award, which honors the top assistant coaches in college football, during his tenures at Washington State and Oklahoma in 2017 and 2019, respectively. However, his professional reputation took a hit following his less successful period with USC.

The Trojans decided to part ways with Grinch with two games left in the 2023 regular season, a move that came just a day after a tumultuous 52-42 defeat against Washington, where the team struggled defensively, allowing an astonishing 572 yards.

As he embarks on this new chapter with UCF, Grinch will be looking to rebuild his coaching legacy and contribute to the team’s success under Frost’s leadership.