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Emotional farewell: CU assistant Grimes heading to Auburn

By B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 18, 2009 at 11:16 p.m.

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Grimes said the Auburn offer "just felt right in my gut."

Photo by © AP

Grimes said the Auburn offer "just felt right in my gut."

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Jeff Grimes invited his University of Colorado offensive linemen to his home for dinner Saturday night. The meal was enjoyable, the after-dinner conversation unsettling.

Grimes, the Buffaloes assistant head coach and running game coordinator/offensive line coach for the past two seasons, told his players he was joining new coach Gene Chizik's staff at Auburn.

"It was definitely emotional," CU sophomore tackle Ryan Miller said Sunday. " 'Grimey' is one heck of a coach; he's been a father figure and role model for all of us.

"It's going to be hard, but you have to move on . . . all we can hope for is (coach Dan Hawkins) will hire someone like 'Grimey.' "

Grimes, 40, joined CU's staff two seasons ago when Hawkins' initial O- line hire, Chris Straus- ser, left after one season in Boulder to return to Boise State.

A CU news release said Hawkins will begin an immediate search for Grimes' replacement.

The Buffs have two offensive line prospects among their 11 known 2009 commitments, and they entertained at least one line recruit during the weekend. National signing day is Feb. 4, and Hawkins presumably hopes to have a hire made by then.

Grimes spent three seasons at Brigham Young before coming to CU. He called the decision to leave Hawkins' staff "very difficult. I love these kids and 'Hawk'; I cried like a baby (Saturday afternoon) when I told him I was going."

Grimes, who was paid $206,887 this season, indicated Auburn offered more job security than CU, which, by state law, cannot provide multiyear contracts to its assistant coaches.

He said he was not financially motivated to accept the Auburn position: "Money isn't everything . . . it was one of those things that just felt right in my gut."

Hawkins has lost only two assistant coaches - Strausser and Grimes - during his three seasons at CU. He called Grimes "a good man, friend and coach; we'll miss him."

Grimes' 2008 line was ravaged by injury, with starters Miller (leg) and Max Tuioti-Mariner (knee) lost for the season. With those two players healthy and other returnees benefiting from a season of experience, Grimes said the Buffs should be measurably better in 2009.

"It's been that way at a couple of my stops," he said, laughing. "They get better and I'm gone."

Meanwhile, according to Rivals.com, CU picked up commitments Sunday from kicker Zach Grossnickle and tight end DaVaughn Thornton, both from Denver East High School.

Grossnickle, rated as the state's top kicking prospect, made 12-of-13 field-goal attempts as a senior, with his only miss coming from 58 yards. He chose CU over Kansas.

Thornton caught 44 passes as a senior and also considered scholarship offers from Colorado State, Wyoming and San Diego State.

Their pledges give CU 13 known commitments. Hawkins has said 20 to 22 scholarships would be available.

CU will conduct its annual post-signing day luncheon Feb. 5 at the Denver Marriott City Center. For more information, call 303-492-5497.

Comments

  • January 19, 2009

    10:59 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    remnant4 writes:

    maybe it's time to change the state law. ridiculous to loose coaches with a law that doesn't make sense.

  • January 20, 2009

    11:06 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    kilpatrick88 writes:

    I'm sure Grimes is a very good guy and great coach, but is anyone else out there appalled that an 'offensive line coach' make $207,000 per year? For crying out loud, they work 3/4 of the year and make a $100,000 more per year than the average PROFESSOR at CU.

    I know it's relative, and I'm sure there are many other position coaches that make more, but that's the problem. Money in collegiate sports is ridiculous and you and I are to blame.

    By the way, how many people out there make less, work harder and work full time? This insanity has to stop