PROVO, Utah (Dec. 14, 2017) — BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake today announced the hiring of LSU running game coordinator and offensive line coach Jeff Grimes as the Cougars’ offensive coordinator.
“I’m pleased to announce Jeff Grimes as the offensive coordinator at BYU,” Sitake said. “Jeff has great leadership ability and outstanding experience mentoring young men at the highest levels of college football. 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.”
A 25-year coaching veteran, including 10 seasons as a running game coordinator and two as an assistant head coach, Grimes returns to BYU from LSU where he has served as the running game coordinator and offensive line coach the past four seasons. Grimes has also served as the running game coordinator at Virginia Tech, Colorado and Arizona State and worked at FBS programs Auburn, Boise State, BYU, Texas A&M and Rice during his extensive career. Grimes coached Auburn’s offensive line during the Tigers’ 2010 BCS National Championship run.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to work, once again, at BYU. It is a special place, filled with extraordinary people and a rich football tradition,” Grimes said. “I want to say thank you to President Worthen, Vice President Richardson, Tom Holmoe, and Coach Sitake for having faith in me and granting me this opportunity.
“I recognize that with this position comes a great deal of responsibility to all of Cougar Nation. 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.”
A familiar face at BYU, Grimes coached the Cougar offensive line from 2004 to 2006. During his stint, the Cougars ranked No. 5 in total offense (465.5 ypg) and scoring offense (36.8 ppg) in 2006 and No. 13 in total offense (462.4 ypg) and No. 24 in scoring (33.0 ppg) in 2005. Curtis Brown ran for back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons behind Grimes’ unit and became the school’s then all-time leading rusher in 2006 with 3,193 yards. Grimes coached several of BYU’s best linemen during his tenure, including Travis Bright, Dallas Reynolds, Lance Reynolds, Jr., Ray Feinga and Scott Young, who all spent time on NFL squads.
In addition to his experience at BYU, Grimes has worked with numerous respected head coaches and coordinators in college football, including Ed Orgeron, Les Miles, Frank Beamer, Gene Chizik, Gus Malzahn, Dan Hawkins, Mark Helfrich, Dirk Koetter, R.C. Slocum and Ken Hatfield.
During his time at LSU, Grimes has had three of his players selected in the NFL Draft to go along with nine All-SEC honors and three All-Americans. LSU's offensive line has helped pave the way for four consecutive 1,000-yard rushers in each of Grimes’ four seasons, including Leonard Fournette, who set the school's single-season mark with 1,853 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2015.
In 49 games as LSU's offensive line coach and running game coordinator, LSU has had at least one running back reach the 100-yard rushing mark 34 times. The Tiger offense has averaged more than 200 rushing yards per game for five consecutive seasons, including the last four under Grimes—a school record.
Grimes coached at Virginia Tech in 2013 in the same capacity, helping the Hokies to an 8-5 season under the legendary Frank Beamer. Prior to coaching with the Hokies, Grimes spent four seasons at Auburn from 2009-2012 as the offensive line coach.
During Auburn's 2010 national championship season, Grimes' coached an offensive line that helped set school records for total yards of offense (6,989) and points (577) for a second consecutive season. The Tigers were No. 5 nationally in rushing yards per game (284.8) and led the SEC in scoring (41.2). Auburn's 2010 team set school records for rushing touchdowns (41), passing touchdowns (31), rushing yards (3,987) and had three offensive linemen earn individual honors.
After his three years at BYU, Grimes served as the assistant head coach, running game coordinator and offensive line coach at Colorado for two seasons from 2007-08. Prior to BYU, Grimes was at Arizona State from 2001 to 2003 as the offensive line coach and running game coordinator. In 2001, four of his seniors were drafted into the NFL, marking just the second time that had been done at any school since the NFL adopted the seven-round draft format in 1993.
In one season at Boise State in 2000, Grimes' offensive line helped the Broncos lead the nation in scoring offense with an average of 44.9 points per game. That year, the Broncos went 10-2 and beat Texas-El Paso in the Humanitarian Bowl.
Grimes began his coaching career in 1993 as a high school coach at Riverside High School in El Paso. After two years there, he moved on to the college ranks, first working as a graduate assistant at Rice (1995) and then at Texas A&M (1996-97) before moving on to Hardin-Simmons (1998-99) as the offensive line coach.
As a player, Grimes earned four letters as an offensive tackle for UTEP between 1987 and 1990. His first two seasons in El Paso he was mentored by offensive line coach and current Kansas City Chiefs' head coach and former BYU Cougar Andy Reid.
A native of Garland, Texas, Grimes, 49, and his wife, Sheri, have four children, daughters Bailey and Jada and sons, Garrison and Greydon.
One of Grimes’ first duties will be completing his offensive staff for the Cougars. Those announcements will be made once finalized.