NORMAN — Before the 2007 season, then-Texas Tech coach Mike Leach felt like it was time for a young graduate assistant on his staff to be elevated to a full-time coaching role.
Eight years later, while at Washington State, Leach brought in a candidate for an open job on his staff and got a very similar feeling that the young coach was ready to be a coordinator.
The former was Lincoln Riley.
The latter was Alex Grinch, who Leach hired to turn around his defense and got spectacular results.
Friday, Grinch was named the Sooners' new defensive coordinator.