ORLANDO, Fla. — Alex Grinch is a defensive coordinator again as he joins new UCF coach Scott Frost’s staff after spending this season as Wisconsin's co-defensive coordinator and coaching the Badgers' safeties.

UCF announced the hire of Grinch on Tuesday.

"UCF has a tradition of explosive, high-energy football, and I look forward to building a defensive unit that matches that identity with speed, toughness, and relentless effort," Grinch said in a statement released by UCF.

“We’re going to play fast, physical, and disciplined football, and I can’t wait to get to work with these players and coaches to help us compete at the highest level.”

Grinch is the latest addition to Frost's staff since he was hired again to coach the Knights on Dec. 7. The others include Scott Cooper as offensive coordinator, former UCF quarterback and Tennessee analyst McKenzie Milton as quarterbacks coach and UCF Hall of Famer Sean Beckton Sr. as wide receivers coach.

Grinch previously worked as a defensive coordinator at Washington State (2015-17), Oklahoma (2019-21) and Southern California (2022-23). Grinch was a safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State in 2018, and he also had the co-defensive coordinator title at Wisconsin this year.

He was a semifinalist for the Broyles Award given to college football’s top assistant coach in 2017 at Washington State and in 2019 at Oklahoma before his stock fell during his disappointing stint at USC.

USC fired Grinch with two games remaining in the 2023 regular season, one day after a 52-42 loss to Washington in which the Trojans allowed 572 yards.