Wesley McGriff is returning to The Plains.
McGriff, a former Auburn defensive assistant, is back on Gus Malzahn's staff again as a defensive assistant, Malzahn announced Wednesday morning.
“I’m very appreciative and excited to be rejoining Coach Malzahn and the staff at Auburn,” McGriff said. “Auburn is a program with outstanding players, coaches and tradition. Coach Malzahn is a great coach and leader and I look forward to helping Auburn win championships.”
In a release from Auburn Athletics, the program did not mention how the assistant spot became open: Last week, two-year secondary coach Greg Brown reportedly left Auburn to become the corners coach at Purdue.
McGriff previously spent one season at Auburn in 2016 as secondary coach and co-defensive coordinator. His coaching, along with that of first-year defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, helped lift the Tigers from 11th in the conference in scoring defense the previous year to No. 2 in 2016. Auburn's run defense and third-down conversion rates improved, as well.
With McGriff coaching defensive backs, Auburn's secondary gave up 44 less explosive plays in 2016 (144) than 2015 (190).
“We’re excited to have Wesley return to our program,” Malzahn said. “He is an outstanding coach and recruiter. He brings great passion and energy and will be a great fit with our defensive staff.”
Following his Auburn stint, McGriff was named defensive coordinator at Ole Miss weeks prior to Auburn's Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma. He was then promoted to Rebels associate head coach July 20, 2017.
In Oxford, McGriff's defense produced two NFL Draft picks in Breeland Speaks and Marquis Haynes, taken in the second and fourth rounds, respectively. McGriff also coached at Ole Miss in 2012 as co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach before heading to New Orleans as a defensive backs assistant from with the Saints from 2013-15.
In his stint with New Orleans, the Saints ranked fourth in the NFL in yards per game, second in opponent passing yards per game and fourth in scoring defense.
After McGriff's 2018 Rebels defense ranked ninth-to-last in the FBS in total defense, he was let go. In January, the Tallahassee Democrat reported McGriff had been hired on Willie Taggart's staff at Florida State. However, according to the report, McGriff had not yet signed a contract when the other assistants Taggart added did. The deal was never completed, and McGriff name came to the forefront regarding the vacant Auburn secondary spot when Brown left for Purdue.
McGriff's hiring is the third assistant coaching turnover of the offseason for the Tigers. A week ago, Tim Horton accepted a position at Vanderbilt working under Derek Mason after Auburn's hiring of Carnell "Cadillac" Williams as the new running backs coach.
Former offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey also accepted an offensive coordinator position at Kansas before taking a head coaching job at Troy. Auburn replaced him with Memphis offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Nathan King, senior in journalism with a minor in business, is The Plainsman's sports editor.
