Washington State hires Tracy Claeys as defensive coordinator

Posted January 08, 2018 6:00 am

The Associated Press

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) - Washington State has hired former Minnesota head coach Tracy Claeys to be defensive coordinator.

The Cougars announced Claeys' hiring Monday. Claeys will replace Alex Grinch, who left for Ohio State after turning the Cougars defense into one of the best in the Pac-12. Washington State was No. 2 in total defense in the conference this season.

Claeys, 49, was most recently the head coach at Minnesota, taking over for Jerry Kill after Kill resigned due to health issues. Claeys went 11-8 and took the Golden Gophers to back-to-back bowls in his year and a half leading the program. His last victory came against Washington State in the Holiday Bowl, but was in the midst of 10 players being suspended in connection with sexual assault allegations.

Claeys was the defensive coordinator at Minnesota beginning in 2011. He also coached at the FBS level at Northern Illinois.

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