MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin is concentrating on Kansas’ Jeff Grimes as its subsequent offensive coordinator, a supply briefed on the discussions informed The Athletic. ESPN first reported that Wisconsin was concentrating on Grimes.
Grimes has greater than 30 years of teaching expertise and has served as an offensive coordinator for the previous seven seasons, at BYU (2018-20), Baylor (2021-23) and Kansas (2024). His background matches with extra of the facility run roots that Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell mentioned he was in search of in his subsequent offensive coordinator.
Fickell mentioned Wednesday that he needed Wisconsin’s offense to be extra of a pro-style system that allowed the Badgers to play primarily out of the shotgun whereas additionally working six to 10 snaps a recreation from below middle. He additionally needed to make the most of some heavier personnel units after two seasons with an air raid variation below former offensive coordinator Phil Longo.
“Our capability to be a number of and perhaps be a bit of bit totally different from what we’ve seen the final two years I feel is basically vital,” Fickell mentioned. “However we don’t need to throw away the issues we’ve performed the final two years. Our capability to be higher within the passing recreation due to what we’ve performed the final two years is basically going to be good. Our capability to amass talent ranges during the last two years provides us a higher alternative to nonetheless play with these guys on the sphere in the event that they’re our greatest 11 guys, which I feel they’re.”
Grimes largely has served as an offensive coordinator, a run recreation coordinator and as an offensive line coach. That probably means Wisconsin additionally will goal a separate quarterbacks coach, which is one thing Fickell additionally famous was a chance. Longo was each the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Wisconsin.
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Grimes coached the offensive line at applications comparable to Boise State (2000), Arizona State (2001-03), BYU (2004-06), Colorado (2007-08), Auburn (2009-12), Virginia Tech (2013) and LSU (2014-17) earlier than incomes his first job as an offensive coordinator at BYU in 2018.
Kansas opened the season ranked No. 22 within the Related Press ballot however misplaced 5 consecutive video games early and completed 5-7. The Jayhawks ranked thirteenth nationally in speeding offense (211.4 yards per recreation), forty fourth in whole offense (420.2 yards per recreation), tied for 53rd in scoring offense (29.7 factors) and 88th in passing offense (208.6 yards per recreation). Kansas working again Devin Neal rushed for 1,266 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, although he additionally rushed for 1,280 yards and 16 touchdowns the earlier season earlier than Grimes arrived.
Grimes did assist lead BYU to an 11-1 season in 2020 when the Cougars averaged 43.5 factors per recreation and quarterback Zach Wilson ranked third nationally in passing yards and touchdowns. His first two Baylor groups in 2021 and 2022 each averaged greater than 30 factors per recreation and the 2021 Bears gained the Large 12 championship and the Sugar Bowl.
Grimes may have an enormous problem forward of him in restoring Wisconsin’s offense, which faltered below Longo, who was fired after 23 video games. Wisconsin’s scoring offense of twenty-two.6 factors per recreation ranked tied for 107th nationally and was solely barely higher than the 22.5 factors it averaged final season. These are the 2 worst seasons for Wisconsin consecutively since 1991 and 1992. Wisconsin’s run recreation additionally struggled to constantly thrive and ranked 78th within the nation (153.7 yards per recreation).
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(Picture of Jeff Grimes: Evert Nelson / USA Immediately Community)
