Gardner-Webb University Athletics

    Chris Grimes is in his third season as an assistant coach at Gardner-Webb, and will take over as Defensive Coordinator for the first time in 2018. Grimes will continue to employ an aggressive, 3-4 defensive scheme, which has been a staple in Boiling Springs since 2013. Grimes will continue to work with the Gardner-Webb secondary as well, a unit he has started to mold into a strong group.

    Grimes’ first season in 2016 proved successful, as cornerback Jaylan Foster was named Big South Conference Freshman of the Year and earned first-team All-Big South Conference honors after a stellar first season. Triston Dozier emerged as a top cover corner as well in his first season manning the position. Grimes helped develop veteran Thomas Adams into a versatile piece of the puzzle, with Adams earning starts and playing well at both corner and safety. Dozier will anchor the Gardner-Webb secondary again in 2018, along with veterans Devin Mines and Josh Carter.

    Grimes spent the 2015 season coaching safeties at nearby East Tennessee State University, helping re-launch the Buccaneers’ program after it was disbanded in 2003. At ETSU, one of Grimes understudies – safety Tony Welch – finished third on the Bucs’ stat sheet with 62 total tackles and led the team with seven pass break ups. Safety Keanu James collected 36 tackles in only nine games played and had a hand in two turnovers himself. Another freshman safety, Austin Jackson, finished with 32 total hits (23 solo), blocked a kick and recovered fumble for ETSU.

    Grimes spent the 2014 season at his high school alma mater, LaVergne (Tenn.) High, serving as defensive coordinator under Coach Stanton Stevens. He helped guide the Wolverines to the Class 6A Playoffs for the first time in eight seasons and directed a defensive unit that forced 37 turnovers.

    He spent four seasons coaching at Tennessee Tech, where he played cornerback for the Golden Eagles. Grimes started his college coaching career in 2010 as a graduate assistant and moved into a full-time role in 2012. He worked as a student assistant in 2008, coaching outside linebackers and began working with safeties and nickel backs after joining the coaching staff in 2010. In 2011, the Golden Eagles finished with a 6-2 record in the OVC and earned a share of the regular season title.

    Grimes was known as a hard-hitting corner during his playing days at Tech, hitting the field as a redshirt freshman in 2004. He started 16 games and played in 39 contests overall during his career – totaling 158 tackles (101 solo stops) and recovering seven fumbles. Grimes also broke up 16 passes and had three interceptions for his career.

    His first career game actually came against Gardner-Webb on September 4, 2004 in Cookeville, Tenn. Grimes finished with two tackles and forced a fumble in the fourth quarter – at his own seven-yard line – that halted a GWU scoring chance and helped preserve a 32-26 win for the Golden Eagles.

    He played under Coach Don Thomas at LaVergne (Tenn.) High before attending Tennessee Tech, starting at running back and free safety. He rushed for 3,650 yards and totaled 231 tackles during his prep career. Grimes graduated from Tennessee Tech in 2008 with a degree in multidisciplinary studies and earned his master’s degree in 2012 from TTU.