After a search that included multiple candidates with offensive coordinator experience, including being part of conference championship teams in the SWAC, Butch Jones has his next tight ends coach as Jones enters a pivotal Year 3 at Arkansas State.
Jones and the Red Wolves are tabbing Nick Grimes as the final piece of their offensive staff. Grimes will coach A-State's tight ends.
A former offensive coordinator under Mike Minter at Campbell, Grimes also had a three-year stint at the University of Cincinnati -- with Tommy Tuberville, shortly after Jones had exited the Bearcats' program for Tennessee -- and spent the 2022 season as the tight ends coach at UAB.
Most recently, Grimes -- a Texas native who began his playing career at Tulsa and finished up at Sam Houston State -- had been slated to serve as an offensive analyst at SMU in 2023 before landing the job on Jones' A-State staff.
The Red Wolves have stitched together consecutive impressive recruiting classes in the Sun Belt, led by personnel ace Matt Wilson, and could be positioned for a resurgence in 2023. They open the upcoming season at perennial powerhouse Oklahoma Sept. 2 and then make their home debut against regional rival Memphis.
Arkansas State is coming off a 3-9 season in Jones' second year at the helm, a campaign in which the Red Wolves climbed to a .500 record at home (3-3).