Oklahoma State hires Todd Grantham to head defense

Field Level Media|published: Mon 9th December, 21:37 2024

Sep 18, 2021; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators defensive coordinator Todd Grantham against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Oklahoma State has hired New Orleans Saints senior advisor and former defensive line coach Todd Grantham to fill its vacant defensive coordinator position, the Saints confirmed on Monday.

Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi informed reporters that Grantham would not finish out the regular season with New Orleans, instead departing the team on Tuesday to begin his new role as DC in Stillwater. Rizzi moved Grantham from his defensive line coach position to the senior advisor role after the club fired head coach Dennis Allen last month.

Grantham, 58, has a long career as a defensive assistant, beginning along the defensive line with Virginia Tech from 1990-95. After a stint as DL coach at Michigan State, Grantham moved up to the NFL, eventually landing a gig as defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2005-07).

He later held defensive coordinator titles at the collegiate level at Georgia (2010-13), Louisville (2014-16), Mississippi State (2017) and Florida (2018-21).

Last week, Oklahoma State dismissed defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo and offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn and held a public bartering session with longtime head coach Mike Gundy, with the two sides ultimately coming to an agreement on his continued employment with the Cowboys.

Oklahoma State went 3-9, including 0-9 to finish last in the Big 12 in 2024. That was Gundy's first losing season since his first season in 2005.

Gundy is the school's all-time leader in coaching wins with 169.

--Field Level Media

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