OU football: Alex Grinch named semifinalist for Broyles Award

First-year defensive coordinator Alex Grinch was named a semifinalist for the Broyles Award, which is given to the best assistant coach in college football. 

1️⃣ of 1️⃣5️⃣ semifinalists for the @BroylesAward for the nation's top assistant coach.https://t.co/SvEBWUplPg #SpeedD #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/TAl6ulD488

— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) November 26, 2019

Grinch was hired in January to fix a group that was ranked 101st in total defense. Through 11 games, Grinch has led the Sooner defense to being ranked 31st in the same category. 

From 114th to 31st in Total D, from 129th to 26th in Pass D, from 118th to 13th in 3rd Down Conversion %, and so on... https://t.co/aGdphBL4am

— Mike Houck (@mhouckOU) November 26, 2019

Before coming to Norman, he spent a year as co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State, and before that he was defensive coordinator at Washington State from 2015 to 2017.

This is the third time Grinch has been nominated for the Broyles Award, and he was a semifinalist in 2017. Now-head coach Lincoln Riley won the award in 2015 when he served as Oklahoma's offensive coordinator.