Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Alex Grinch reported to interview for Arizona head job

By Chip Rouse

Sep 7, 2019; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive coordinator Alex Grinch speaks with safety Jeremiah Criddell (22) before the game against the South Dakota Coyotes at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2019; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive coordinator Alex Grinch speaks with safety Jeremiah Criddell (22) before the game against the South Dakota Coyotes at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Just as the Oklahoma football defense appears to have regained its relevance, the Sooners could be losing their defensive architect.

Alex Grinch. who joined the Oklahoma staff in 2019 as defensive coordinator and has improved the Sooner defense from one of the worst among the 129 FBS teams into a top-20 defense in just two seasons, is reported to be interviewing for the head-coaching job at Arizona.

Kevin Sumlin, who was an assistant coach under Bob Stoops from 2003 to 2007, was fired as Arizona head coach after a 9-20 record in three seasons as the Wildcats’ head coach.

Grinch inherited an Oklahoma defense that ranked 114th in the country in total defense, allowing opponents 453.8 yards per game and dead last among the 129 FBS teams in passing offense, giving up 294.0 yards per game.

In 2020, the Sooners rank 18th in the country in total defense (333.6 yards per game) and third in the country in rushing defense (90.6 yards per game).

Before coming to Oklahoma prior to the 2019 season, Grinch was at Ohio State for a season and before that at Washington State, where he produced a similar defensive turnaround to what he has achieved in Norman.

Grinch is expected to interview for the Arizona jib sometime in the next two days.

If Grinch is offered and accepts the Arizona job, he will become the second Sooner assistant to leave OU for a head-coaching opportunity this month. Shane Beamer, who coached the H-backs and tight ends and helped out with special teams, became the new head coach at South Carolina earlier in the month.

Former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops left Oklahoma in 2003 to be head coach at Arizona. He was there eight seasons, but was fired in 2011. He returned to Oklahoma as defensive coordinator between 2012 and 2018. Stoops was let go six games into the 2018 season after OU gave up 48 points and 501 offensive yards in a loss to Texas. He was replaced by Ruffin McNeill for the remainder of that season, and Grinch was brought in for the 2019 season.

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