Missouri hires Grinch to coach safeties

Published Jan. 5, 2012 4:26 p.m. ET

foxsports

Alex Grinch, the secondary coach at Wyoming the last three seasons, is returning to Missouri to coach the safeties.

Grinch served on coach Gary Pinkel's staff as a graduate assistant from 2002-04. Wyoming coach Dave Christensen was the longtime offensive coordinator under Pinkel at Missouri.

Grinch replaces Barry Odom, named defensive coordinator at Memphis last month. Wyoming led the Mountain West Conference in pass defense last season and was tied for fifth in the NCAA with 31 turnovers produced.

Grinch was a third-team All-America safety and was a member of three NCAA Division III championship teams at Mount Union, and also coached at New Hampshire from 2005-08.