ORLANDO — Alex Grinch, a four-time nominee and two-time Broyles Award semifinalist, has been named UCF football’s defensive coordinator, head coach Scott Frost announced. Grinch joins the Knights after spending the 2024 season as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Wisconsin.
“I’m honored and excited to join UCF as the defensive coordinator,” said Grinch. “I want to thank Coach Frost for the opportunity to be part of this outstanding program. 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.
“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.”
Nationally recognized among his peers, Grinch was a semifinalist for the Broyles Award (presented annually to the nation’s top assistant coach) in 2019 at Oklahoma and 2017 at Washington State as the defensive coordinator at both places. His Sooners defense improved drastically in nearly every statistic from the year prior to his arrival.
Oklahoma jumped more than 100 spots in third-down conversion percentage, leaping from 118 (46.4%) in 2018 to 17 (32.2) in 2019. The Sooners led the Big 12 Conference in rushing defense and ranked among the top 35 nationally after ranking outside the top 50 the previous year.
In 2019, OU won the Big 12 Championship and earned a spot in the four-team College Football Playoff where they fell to eventual national champion LSU. The Sooners led the conference and ranked 17th nationally in tackles for loss per game with 7.4.
Grinch’s 2017 Washington State defense finished among the nation’s top 10 in third-down conversion percentage (4th: 28.5), passing yards allowed (9th: 170.9) and team tackles for loss (9th: 7.9) to earn him a spot on the Broyles Award semifinalists. WSU ranked 16th in the country in total defense, yielding 323.2 yards per game to opponents.
Under Grinch’s direction, Washington State recorded 28 turnovers to rank ninth nationally.
He joined the Wisconsin Badgers in February 2024 following defensive coordinator stints at USC (2022-23) and Oklahoma (2019-21). UW is among the top 15 FBS programs in fewest passing yards allowed this season, checking in at No. 14 with 177.7 per game. Under his guidance, senior safety captain Hunter Wohler led the Badgers in tackles with 71, the fifth most among Big Ten Conference defensive backs to claim honorable mention all-conference honors.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF) advanced metrics, Wisconsin ranked 18th nationally in pass coverage as a team at 89.7.
In 2022 at USC, Grinch's defensive unit led the nation in turnover margin (1.57) after the Trojans ranked No. 74 nationally in 2021 prior. USC ranked No. 3 nationally with 19 interceptions by 11 different players.
At Oklahoma, the 2020 season was another strong season for Grinch's defensive unit. The Sooners ranked top 10 nationally in interceptions, third down defense, sacks, passing efficiency defense and rushing defense while allowing only 21.7 points per game. Oklahoma claimed the 2020 Big 12 title and earned a trip to the Cotton Bowl.
Grinch spent the 2018 season at Ohio State as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. That year, the Buckeyes ranked sixth nationally with four defensive touchdowns. Before his season in Columbus, Grinch was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Washington State (2015-17) and the safeties coach at Missouri (2012-14).
He broke into the SEC as a full-time assistant in 2012 for a three-season stint at Missouri. Grinch coached the Tigers' safeties and Mizzou won SEC East Division titles in 2013 and 2014 and claimed a Cotton Bowl victory in 2013.
Grinch was a safety at Mount Union (1998-2001), as the Purple Raiders went 54-1, won three NCAA Division III championships (1998-2000-01) and four Ohio Athletic Conference titles. He earned All-America third team honors and was an Academic All-League first team selection as a 2001 senior.
The Grove City, Ohio, native received his bachelor's degree in sport management from Mount Union and earned a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy analysis at Missouri.
UCF Hall of Famer Sean Beckton Sr. tabbed Associate Head Coach, Wide Receivers Coach
UCF Hall of Famer Sean Beckton Sr. has been named associate head coach and wide receivers coach.
“I’m honored to join Coach Frost’s staff, especially at a place that means so much to me. I’m excited to contribute to the program’s exciting history with such a talented group of players and coaches. UCF is home to me, and I’m thankful for the chance to help carry forward its proud legacy.”
During his time as coach with the Black and Gold, Beckton has helped the Knights win four of the six conference championships in UCF history and claim the program’s two New Year’s Six bowl wins. Additionally, numerous players have earned all-conference accolades under his guidance.
Beckton was a part of the historic 2017 National Championship campaign when the Knights went a perfect 13-0, highlighted by a victory over Auburn in the Peach Bowl. It marked the greatest two-year turnaround in NCAA history with both seasons (2016 & 2017) during Frost’s first stint with the Black and Gold.
As a player, Beckton concluded his career as UCF’s all-time leader in receptions (196) and receiving yards (2,493). Those marks currently rank third and fifth, respectively, in the UCF record books. He still owns the program record for consecutive games with a reception (42), punt returns in a single game (8) and punt return yardage (158) in a single game.
He was one of the first two football players inducted into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame, as he was enshrined alongside Mark Giovanetti in 2000.
Beckton remains on the UCF staff in his fourth stint with the Knights, after rejoining the program as an analyst in July 2024. He served on staff from 2009-2017 as the Black and Gold's tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator (2016-17), wide receivers (2012-15) and defensive backs coach from 2009-11. He was also wide receivers coach from 1996-2003, after working as a graduate assistant from 1992-93.
Originally from Daytona Beach, Beckton served as tight ends coach at Nebraska for five years. He coached one of Nebraska’s best tight ends while in Lincoln with Frost from 2018-22, as Austin Allen set the Huskers’ season tight end records with 38 receptions and 602 yards. He also set a school single-game record with 143 receiving yards at Wisconsin. Allen earned first-team all-conference honors and was the Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year.
Beckton led the Knights in receiving yards in three consecutive years as a player, highlighted by 1,030 yards as a sophomore in 1988. As a senior against Texas Southern, Beckton scored a touchdown four different ways (passing, rushing, receiving and punt return). He threw a 33-yard touchdown pass, rushed for an 11-yard TD, caught a 17-yard TD and returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown.
Beckton earned his degree from UCF in liberal studies in 1993. He and his wife, Zorana, have one son, Sean Jr., and one daughter, Zaria. Sean Beckton Jr. is an assistant director of sports performance for the football program, and Zaria earned her degree from Nebraska in May 2022.
Kenny Martin to remain as Defensive Tackles Coach
UCF’s defensive tackles coach Kenny Martin will remain on staff. An Orlando native, Martin’s defensive tackles have figured prominently in the Knights’ defensive efforts over the last four years.
Entering his fifth season with the Knights in 2025, Martin is now the longest tenured defensive tackles coach in the state of Florida.
“It’s truly a blessing and honor to have the opportunity to be a part of Coach Frost’s staff,” said Martin. “Orlando is home, UCF is home, and the fans have welcomed me and my family with open arms. I look forward to making this university proud and helping bring back the winning tradition that UCF Football is known for. I believe in this team, and I believe in this coaching staff.”
Prior to UCF, he was the defensive tackles coach from 2018-20 for Western Kentucky’s defenses that ranked among the most productive in the country. Martin first returned to his alma mater in 2016 and worked with the defensive tackles position group for five seasons, the first two as a graduate assistant coach.
A four-year letterman for Western Kentucky, Martin started 42 games from 2009-12 (74 career tackles) and was a member of the Hilltoppers' first FBS bowl team in the 2012 Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl. He is a 2012 Western Kentucky graduate with a degree in sociology.
Martin and his wife, the former Tasha Babb, have a daughter Khloe and son Tre.
