Alabama football will have its fourth offensive coordinator in as many seasons in 2025, with Ryan Grubb taking over the job. Grubb goes way back with head coach Kalen DeBoer, with the two first working together in 2007 at Sioux Falls.
That was where Grubb would get his first college offensive coordinator. He’s spent a total of nine seasons as an OC at the college level, taking 2024 away from the college game, with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.
As Grubb takes the reins in Tuscaloosa, here’s a look back at each of his college OC seasons.
2010
After three seasons as Sioux Falls’ offensive line coach and run game coordinator, Grubb took over as OC, just as DeBoer left for Southern Illinois. His first season continued the Cougars’ run of success, and the offense kept putting up big numbers, ranking third in scoring offense throughout the NAIA.
The team only scored less than 30 points once in the regular season, a 28-3 win over Morningside. Sioux Falls regular put up more than 40, and twice scored more than 60 points.
Unfortunately for Grubb and company, the offensive luck ran out against Carroll in the NAIA national title game. The Fighting Saints took down Sioux Falls 10-7.
2011
Grubb’s second season at Sioux Falls was a down year for the Cougars. USF went 5-4 and missed the NAIA playoffs.
Still, the offense was able to find success at times. Most notably in a 71-0 win over South Dakota Mines.
The Sioux Falls offense managed to put up 347 yards per game in 2011.
2012
Sioux Falls and Grubb were successful at a new level in 2012. The Cougars moved from NAIA competition to the NCAA’s Division II
The team finished 9-2 in its new surroundings, and saw five offensive players make all-conference. Sioux Falls scored more than 40 points four times throughout the year.
2013
Grubb’s final season at Sioux Falls wasn’t as successful as some of his previous years. The Cougars went 6-5, including a 52-17 loss to No. 1 Minnesota State.
The offense kept working fine though, averaging 33 points per game. The Cougars rushed for 2,709 yards and passed for 2,442.
2019
Grubb spent time at Eastern Michigan with DeBoer before following his friend to Fresno State, where he worked as the Bulldogs’ offensive line coach for two seasons. He took over as offensive coordinator for the 2019 season, when DeBoer left for Indiana.
Fresno State went 4-8 in the final season of Jeff Tedford’s first stint as head coach. It scored 30 points per game, 58th out of 130 FBS teams.
Quarterback Jorge Reyna led the way on the field, passing for 2,655 yards and 15 touchdowns.
2020
DeBoer returned as head coach and the Bulldogs had their season rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fresno State only played three games, finishing the year 3-3.
Even so, the offense went for 479.3 yards per game, and improved to 36th in points per game nationwide. 2020 also saw the emergence of Jake Haener at quarterback.
2021
Grubb and DeBoer’s final season at Fresno State went well. The team finished the year 10-3, and much of the improvement was due to the offense.
Haener had a huge year, throwing for 4,096 and 33 touchdowns. The Bulldogs averaged 33.4 points per game.
2022
After the success at Fresno State, Grubb followed DeBoer to Washington. After the Huskies went 4-8 in the season before their arrival, they improved to 11-2 in 2022.
Washington finished the year ranked seventh in points per game, at 39.7. UW averaged 515.8 yards per game.
The year was Grubb’s first working with quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who had first played under DeBoer at Indiana. Penix threw 4,641 yards and 31 touchdowns.
2023
The culmination of DeBoer and Grubb’s time in Seattle was an appearance in the national championship. Once again, the Pac-12 championship season was due to a huge offensive showing.
Washington averaged 36 points and 462.1 yards per game. Penix was a Heisman trophy finalist, leading the Pac-12 with 4,903 passing yards and 36 touchdowns.
The 2023 season was Grubb’s most recent as a college offensive coordinator, as he would spend 2024 with the Seahawks after DeBoer moved on to Alabama.
