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College Football: 10 assistants who will become head coaches in 2021

By Dante Pryor

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 28: Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch observers warm ups before the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Red Raiders 55-16. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 28: Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch observers warm ups before the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Red Raiders 55-16. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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NORMAN, OK – NOVEMBER 9: Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch of the Oklahoma Sooners checks on his team before a game against the Iowa State Cyclones on November 9, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. OU held on to win 42-41. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK – NOVEMBER 9: Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch of the Oklahoma Sooners checks on his team before a game against the Iowa State Cyclones on November 9, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. OU held on to win 42-41. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

8. Alex Grinch, Oklahoma (DC)

Many were shocked when Alex Grinch did not go back to Pullman and take the Washington State head coaching job when Mike Leach went to Mississippi State. He decided to stay at Oklahoma another year and keep building the Sooner defense.

Though no one will confuse the Oklahoma defense with an elite defense, they got better on that side of the ball. The defense was nearly seven points and 100 yards better in 2019 than in 2018. Grinch seems excited about the prospect of being able to turn Oklahoma back into one of the elite defenses in the country.

Being the high riser that he is, Grinch feels like he can pick the right job. That is probably why he turned down Washington State and did not pursue the Colorado job. He won’t get a top-tier Power Five job right away, but he is looking for a middle-tier program.

Grinch has earned the respect of his colleagues everywhere he has gone. He has risen up the ladder fairly quickly and will become a head coach sooner rather than later. The question is what is his ideal situation for him?

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