Jeff Grimes

  • Jeff
  • Grimes

  • Offensive Line Coach &
    Running Game Coordinator

After a successful four-year stint instructing a unit that paved the way for Auburn’s offense, including a national championship run in 2010, Jeff Grimes begins his first year as offensive line coach and running game coordinator for the Hokies.

Personal
Born: Born: 9/23/68, Garland, Texas
Hometown: Garland, Texas
Wife: former Sheri Hermesmeyer
Children: Bailey, Garrison, Greydon and Jada

Education
High School: Lakeview Centennial High School
College: University of Texas-El Paso (1991)
Postgraduate: Texas A&M (1997)

Playing Experience
University of Texas-El Paso (1987-90)

Coaching Experience
1993-94 Riverside (TX) High School (offensive coordinator/OL)
1995Rice (graduate assistant)
1996-97Texas A&M (graduate assistant)
1998-99Hardin-Simmons (offensive line)
2000Boise State (offensive line)
2001-03Arizona State (OL/running game coordinator)
2004-06Brigham Young (offensive line)
2007-08Colorado (asst. head coach/running game coordinator/offensive line)
2009-12Auburn (offensive line)
2013-Virginia Tech (offensive line/running game coordinator)

Bowl Experience
Player
   1988Independence (UTEP vs. Southern Miss)
Coach
   1997Cotton (Texas A&M vs. UCLA)
   2000Humanitarian (Boise State vs. UTEP)
   2002Holiday (Arizona State vs. Kansas State)
   2005Las Vegas (BYU vs. Cal)
   2006Las Vegas (BYU vs. Oregon)
   2007Independence (Colorado vs. Alabama)
   2009Outback (Auburn vs. Northwestern)
   2010BCS National Championship (Auburn vs. Oregon)
national championship team
   2011Chick-fil-A (Auburn vs. Virginia)

During Auburn’s 2010 national championship season, Grimes’ coached an offensive line that set school records for total yards of offense (6,989) and points (577) for a second consecutive season. The Tigers led the Southeastern Conference and were fifth nationally in rushing yards per game (284.8) and led the SEC in scoring (41.2 ppg).

The 2010 Tigers set school records for rushing touchdowns (41), passing touchdowns (31), rushing yardage (3,987) and had three offensive linemen earn individual honors. Tackle Lee Ziemba was a consensus All-America selection and earned the Jacobs Trophy as the SEC’s best blocker before he was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the NFL Draft. Guard Byron Isom was named second-team All-SEC and center Ryan Pugh earned third-team All-America honors. Following the 2011 season, tackle Brandon Mosley was selected by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft after earning All-SEC honors his senior season.

In his first season with the Tigers, Grimes helped establish a unit that set numerous school records, including points in a season (433), most total yards of offense in a season (5,613) and most plays in a season (914). Auburn’s 266 first downs in 2009 was the second-best total in school history, and its average of 431.8 yards per game ranked fourth. The Tigers also had the seventh-most rushing yards (2,756) in a single season in Auburn history.

In addition, Grimes coached both Ryan Pugh and Lee Ziemba to second-team All-SEC honors during the 2009 season.

Prior to his stint at Auburn, Grimes served as the assistant head coach, running game coordinator and offensive line coach at Colorado for two seasons from 2007-08. Two of his CU linemen from his first season, Tyler Polumbus and Edwin Harrison, were on NFL rosters in 2008.

A 20-year coaching veteran, Grimes went to Colorado from Brigham Young, where he coached the offensive line for three seasons from 2004-06. His 2006 BYU linemen were a large part of the Cougars’ Mountain West Conference championship team, which finished 11-2.

Grimes’ success continued at Arizona State as four of his 2001 seniors were drafted into the NFL; it marked just the second time that had been done at any school since the NFL adopted the seven-round draft format in 1993.

In one season at Boise State in 2000, Grimes’ offensive line helped the Broncos lead the nation in scoring offense and accumulate 175 rushing yards per game.

Grimes began his coaching career in 1993 as a high school coach at Riverside High School in El Paso. After two years there, he moved on to the college ranks, first working as a graduate assistant at Rice (1995) and then at Texas A&M (1996-97).

Grimes earned four letters as an offensive tackle for UTEP between 1987 and 1990, including three years under former BSU and ASU head coach Dirk Koetter when he was UTEP’s offensive coordinator and two years under current Kansas City Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid.

He was in training camp with both the Los Angeles Raiders of the NFL and the San Antonio Riders of the World Football League before entering coaching.

Grimes, a native of Garland, Texas, and his wife, Sheri, have four children, daughters Bailey and Jada and sons, Garrison and Greydon.