PROVO -- Head football coach Gary Crowton announced today Jeff Grimes has been selected to fill the vacant coaching position at BYU. Grimes, who served as the offensive line coach and running game coordinator for the Sun Devils, will coach the offensive line for the Cougars.
"We are very excited to have Coach Grimes join us at BYU," Crowton said. "Jeff is an outstanding person, a great coach and a perfect fit for our staff. We are looking forward to working with him and drawing from his experiences."
Grimes, a native of Garland, Texas, has spent the past three seasons at Arizona State, including three seasons as the offensive line coach. In 2003, Grimes also served as the running-game coordinator for the Sun Devils.
"Working the past three years at Arizona State has been a great experience," Grimes said. "I have learned a great deal from Coach [Dirk] Koetter about offenses and how to run a program. I am excited to bring that knowledge and experience with me to BYU.
"I am looking forward to working with Coach Crowton, the staff and players at BYU. My respect for this program goes way back to my days as a player at UTEP. Whenever we came to BYU, we always lost and we always played in front of a packed stadium. The atmosphere has always been incredible. I guess this is one of those cases where if you can't beat them, then join them."
Under Grimes, ASU's 2001 offensive line, led by NFL draft choices and All-Pac-10 selections Scott Peters and Levi Jones, helped ASU finish fourth in the Pac-10 in rushing, averaging 167.1 yards per game. Four of Grimes' offensive linemen were taken in the 2001 NFL Draft for the first time in school history. Having four linemen selected in a single draft marked only the second time that had been done at any school since 1993--the first year the NFL adopted the seven-round draft format.
After losing four offensive linemen to the NFL, Grimes assembled a new offensive line in 2002 that protected the ninth-rated passing offense in the country.
Grimes, 35, moved to Arizona State after one year at Boise State where the offensive line helped the Broncos lead the nation in scoring offense and accumulate 175 rushing yards per game.
Prior to Boise State, Grimes coached the offensive line at Hardin-Simmons University from 1998-99. He helped lead the Cowboys to consecutive conference crowns and a national quarterfinal appearance in 1999 with a 12-1 record.
A four-year letterman as an offensive tackle at UTEP (1986-90), Grimes played under current ASU head coach Dirk Koetter when Koetter was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Miners (1986-88). As a sophomore and junior at UTEP, Grimes played under current Philadelphia Eagles' head coach Andy Reid.
After spending time in training camps with the Los Angeles Raiders of the NFL and the San Antonio Riders of the World Football League, Grimes began his coaching career at Riverside High School in El Paso, Texas, where he served as the team's offensive line coach and offensive coordinator. Grimes helped lead Riverside to regional playoffs each season, and his 1994 team led the state in total offense in 5A. He became a graduate assistant coach at Rice University in 1995 and Texas A&M from 1996-98.
Grimes received his bachelor's degree in education from UTEP in 1991 and his master's degree in education administration from Texas A&M in 1997.
Grimes is married to the former Sheri Hermesmeyer of Amarillo, Texas. The couple has a 3-year-old daughter, Baily, and a 22-month-old son, Garrison.
"I have two young children and I am very impressed with the family atmosphere at BYU, particularly with Coach Crowton and the coaching staff. I love my job, but my family is more important to me. I appreciate the emphasis Coach Crowton places on the family. I want to be the best husband and father I can be, so having a chance to work in this environment is something I just couldn't pass up.
"Coach Crowton has a great reputation. He is known for his offensive innovation as well as his values. I know several people who know him and can't say enough good about him. I'm excited to have the opportunity to work with someone like that."
With the addition of Grimes to the coaching staff, Crowton has also announced Lance Reynolds will switch from his duties as the offensive line coach to the running backs' coach. Prior to working with the offensive line, Reynolds, who also serves as the assistant head coach, was responsible for coaching the running backs under LaVell Edwards. In addition, Paul Tidwell, who has coached the running backs for the past three seasons, will now serve exclusively as the special teams' coordinator.