Lincoln Riley retains Alex Grinch as USC defensive coordinator with Trojans eyeing big improvement in 2023

Alex Grinch will probably be retained as USC defensive coordinator in 2023, Trojans coach Lincoln Riley confirmed on Tuesday. Grinch adopted Riley to Los Angeles from Oklahoma however has come beneath hearth after quite a few lackluster defensive performances throughout his 4 years working with Riley. 

“I know what he’s made of. I just do. I know what’s getting ready to happen defensively. And so, I just have a confidence and a belief there, not just in Alex, but the other guys in the room,” Riley said. 

Grinch joined Riley at Oklahoma after success at Washington State and a middling tenure as co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State. In his first season, Grinch helped rework the Sooners from the No. 114 whole protection in faculty soccer to a top-40 unit, headlined by holding Texas to only 310 yards and a couple of.8 yards per carry in a 34-27 win. The unit improved to No. 29 in whole protection in 2020. 

However, Grinch’s defenses have spiraled during the last two seasons and hit new lows since transferring to Los Angeles. The Trojans squandered a 15-point lead with simply 4:30 remaining in a 46-45 Cotton Bowl loss to Tulane on Jan. 2 in one of many extra irritating finishes of the season. In three losses throughout an 11-3 marketing campaign, Grinch’s protection allowed 136 factors and 1,634 yards — primarily a full mile of whole offense. 

Rumors swirled that Riley may contemplate transferring in one other path at defensive coordinator on the heels of the Cotton Bowl meltdown, however Riley informed reporters that no workers adjustments have been anticipated on both aspect of the ball outdoors of interim receivers coach Luke Huard incomes the full-time place after former receivers coach Dave Nichol tragically died of cancer. 

Grinch now turns into one of the crucial scrutinized assistant coaches in faculty soccer. USC was a pair of Utah video games away from incomes its first journey to the College Football Playoff, however the Utes scored 90 mixed factors in the 2 thrashings of Grinch’s protection. Grinch has not held a ranked opponent to beneath 27 factors for the reason that 2020 Cotton Bowl in opposition to Florida when the Gators have been with out quarterback Kyle Trask and tight finish Kyle Pitts. 

The USC workers has been aggressive in the switch portal, although, including 5 defensive gamers to hitch the 12 defensive transfers from the earlier recruiting class. Complicating issues is the truth that first-team All-American defensive finish Tuli Tuipulotu and high cornerback Mekhi Blackmon are off to the NFL Draft. 

Regardless, one other end outdoors of the highest 90 in whole and scoring protection, particularly with Heisman-winning quarterback Caleb Williams main the opposite aspect of the ball, could find yourself with Riley wanting in a brand new path for 2024.