PROVO, Utah, Dec. 14, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — Brigham Young University has hired a new offensive coordinator for the Cougars football team.
Head coach Kalani Sitake made the announcement Thursday morning that Jeff Grimes, who comes to BYU from Louisiana State University where he was offensive line coach and run-game coordinator, will replace Ty Detmer.
Grimes coached the Cougar offensive line from 2004 to 2006.
“I’m pleased to announce Jeff Grimes as the offensive coordinator at BYU,” Sitake said in a news release. “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.”
Grimes said he is looking forward to his return to BYU.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to work, once again, at BYU,” he said in the news release. “It is a special place, filled with extraordinary people and a rich football tradition. 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.”
He added that his family is eagerly anticipating returning to Utah.
“I recognize that with this position comes a great deal of responsibility to all of Cougar Nation,” he 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 news release says Grimes is a 25-year coaching veteran, including 10 seasons as a running game coordinator and two as an assistant head coach. He has worked at LSU for the past four seasons.
He 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.
This is the first time Grimes has served as offensive coordinator.
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, the news release said.
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.
It was announced Nov. 27 that Detmer had been relieved of his role as offensive coordinator after two seasons.
“Detmer and all coaches remain under contract on the staff,” said a news release at the time. “BYU will immediately begin a search for a new offensive coordinator. The new coordinator will make decisions regarding the offensive staff.”
