Kansas football: Jayhawks praised for OC hiring of Jeff Grimes

Kansas football made a home-run hire with Jeff Grimes, who will be replacing Andy Kotelnicki as the Jayhawks offensive coordinator next season.

Losing Andy Kotelnicki to Penn State was a big blow for the Kansas football team. The offensive mastermind had worked with Lance Leipold for over a decade and was critical to the program’s resurgence. However, the man he is being succeeded by is also well-equipped for the job.

Jeff Grimes has been around college football for the entire 21st century. He’s held stints as offensive coordinator at BYU (2017 to 2020) and Baylor (2021 to 2023). Additionally, he has worked with the offensive line and coordinated the run game at schools such as LSU, Colorado, and Auburn.

Now, Grimes will take on a new leadership role with the Kansas Jayhawks. The 2-time Broyles Award finalist — which is handed out to college football’s top assistant coach — is set to work with the tight ends and run the offense alongside quarterbacks coach Jim Zebrowski.

What is most encouraging about Grimes is his familiarity with the ground game. Kansas football excelled with the triple option and funky offensive schemes with Kotelnicki, and Grimes brings a similar skill set to the table. This hire should definitely catch the eye of superstar running back Devin Neal, who is contemplating whether to depart for the NFL or return to KU for a senior season.

Kansas has received high praise for the hire thus far. Here’s what Jayhawk beat reporter and 247 Sports analyst Michael Swain had to say:

“Grimes has also coached in the Big 12 for a few seasons now and although the conference is evolving, he’s schemed against some of the defenses KU will see going forward,” Swain writes. So he brings a strong level of familiarity with the conference and the challenges KU will face… Overall, this should be a very smooth transition [from Kotelnicki to Grimes].”

Grimes has been around some of the best in the business. As a college football player at UTEP, the 55-year-old worked with offensive lines coach and now Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. He was also in consideration for the UTEP job this offseason.

While losing Kotelnicki was a tough pill to swallow, Grimes is thought of very highly by his peers. The Kansas football offense should be able to maintain its identity for years to come.