College Football

Washington State hires Missouri assistant Alex Grinch as new DC

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:58 p.m. ET

Bruce Feldman

Missouri safeties coach Alex Grinch will take over as the new defensive coordinator at Washington State, Cougars head coach Mike Leach told FOX Sports Wednesday morning.

Leach had dismissed defensive coordinator Mike Breske after a season where the Cougars ranked No. 97 in total defense and No. 114 in scoring defense and had a 3-9 record.

Grinch, a 2002 Mount Union grad who was part of three D3 national title teams, worked with WSU receivers coach Dave Yost at Mizzou. Prior to his time on Gary Pinkel's staff, Grinch spent three seasons as the secondary coach at Wyoming.

He also was a colleague of Chip Kelly when the two worked together at New Hampshire. "He's a stud," Kelly told FOX Sports Wednesday. "He's a real rising star. One of the best teachers I've been around."

Bruce Feldman is a senior college football reporter and columnist for FOXSports.com and FOX Sports 1. He is also a New York Times Bestselling author. His new book, "The QB: The Making of Modern Quarterbacks," came out in October 2014. Follow him on Twitter @BruceFeldmanCFB.