MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin is targeting Kansas’ Jeff Grimes as its next offensive coordinator, a source briefed on the discussions told The Athletic. ESPN first reported that Wisconsin was targeting Grimes.
Grimes has more than 30 years of coaching experience and has served as an offensive coordinator for the past seven seasons, at BYU (2018-20), Baylor (2021-23) and Kansas (2024). His background fits with more of the power run roots that Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said he was looking for in his next offensive coordinator.
Fickell said Wednesday that he wanted Wisconsin’s offense to be more of a pro-style system that allowed the Badgers to play primarily out of the shotgun while also running six to 10 snaps a game from under center. He also wanted to utilize some heavier personnel sets after two seasons with an air raid variation under former offensive coordinator Phil Longo.
“Our ability to be multiple and maybe be a little bit different from what we’ve seen the last two years I think is really important,” Fickell said. “But we don’t want to throw away the things we’ve done the last two years. Our ability to be better in the passing game because of what we’ve done the last two years is really going to be good. Our ability to acquire skill levels over the last two years gives us a greater opportunity to still play with those guys on the field if they’re our best 11 guys, which I think they are.”
Grimes largely has served as an offensive coordinator, a run game coordinator and as an offensive line coach. That likely means Wisconsin also will target a separate quarterbacks coach, which is something Fickell also noted was a possibility. Longo was both the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Wisconsin.
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Grimes coached the offensive line at programs such as Boise State (2000), Arizona State (2001-03), BYU (2004-06), Colorado (2007-08), Auburn (2009-12), Virginia Tech (2013) and LSU (2014-17) before earning his first job as an offensive coordinator at BYU in 2018.
Kansas opened the season ranked No. 22 in the Associated Press poll but lost five consecutive games early and finished 5-7. The Jayhawks ranked 13th nationally in rushing offense (211.4 yards per game), 44th in total offense (420.2 yards per game), tied for 53rd in scoring offense (29.7 points) and 88th in passing offense (208.6 yards per game). Kansas running back Devin Neal rushed for 1,266 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, though he also rushed for 1,280 yards and 16 touchdowns the previous season before Grimes arrived.
Grimes did help lead BYU to an 11-1 season in 2020 when the Cougars averaged 43.5 points per game and quarterback Zach Wilson ranked third nationally in passing yards and touchdowns. His first two Baylor teams in 2021 and 2022 both averaged more than 30 points per game and the 2021 Bears won the Big 12 championship and the Sugar Bowl.
Grimes will have a big challenge ahead of him in restoring Wisconsin’s offense, which faltered under Longo, who was fired after 23 games. Wisconsin’s scoring offense of 22.6 points per game ranked tied for 107th nationally and was only slightly better than the 22.5 points it averaged last season. Those are the two worst seasons for Wisconsin consecutively since 1991 and 1992. Wisconsin’s run game also struggled to consistently thrive and ranked 78th in the country (153.7 yards per game).
Required reading
- Wisconsin fires offensive coordinator Phil Longo after third straight loss
(Photo of Jeff Grimes: Evert Nelson / USA Today Network)
