LSU OL coach Jeff Grimes emerging as BYU's next offensive coordinator


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PROVO — After the sudden dismissal of former Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer as offensive coordinator, the BYU football program appears ready to bring another former staff member home.

The Cougars are reportedly set to bring back former offensive line coach Jeff Grimes as offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports. Grimes has been the offensive line coach at Louisiana State since 2014.

The news was first reported by FootballScoop.com, a website dedicated to tracking coaching hires, and confirmed by several outlets.

A BYU football spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment on the report.

Former BYU star Chad Lewis, who currently works as an associate athletic director at the school, tweeted his approval of Grimes late Wednesday night.

"Coach Grimes is a great hire for BYU," he wrote. "He has toughness, experience, respect and smarts. Welcome back to Provo!"

An official announcement of BYU's next offensive coordinator is expected later this week, according to a source. It's unknown who among the Cougars' current staff will remain under Grimes; BYU announced that the new coordinator would make all decisions regarding his staff upon the completion of his hire when it let Detmer go.

Current offensive line coach Mike Empey worked with Grimes at BYU in 2004, and seems among the most likely to remain. The Cougars' other offensive coaches include wide receivers coach Ben Cahoon, running backs coach Reno Mahe, tight ends coach Steve Clark and Detmer, who was retained as quarterbacks coach at the time of his dismissal.

An ESPN report placed Weber State offensive coordinator Fesi Sitake as a possibility of moving to Provo as a position coach. Sitake, a former star wide receiver at Southern Utah and close cousin of BYU's Kalani Sitake, has been the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator, in addition to his role running the offense for the 11-3 Wildcats in 2017.

The Baton Rouge Advocate reported that Grimes had previously been offered a spot on Sitake’s staff two years ago, but he returned to LSU after negotiation additional contract incentives. His new contract, which was made public by Louisiana open records request laws, called for Grimes to receive $550,000 in compensation through the 2018 season.

LSU beat writer Ross Dellenger reported that LSU expects Grimes to coach through the bowl season. The Tigers will face Notre Dame in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Grimes, who previously coached at Virginia Tech, Auburn, Colorado, Arizona State, Boise State and Hardin-Simmons, was the offensive line coach at BYU from 2004-06.

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A native of Garland, Texas, he graduated from Texas-El Paso in 1991 and has spent the past four seasons at LSU.

Under Grimes’ watch, the Tigers produced three offensive linemen taken in the NFL Draft and seven more earn all-SEC honors. In three seasons, the line blocked for three-straight 1,000-yard rushers, including current Jacksonville running back Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice.

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