Husky Coach Review: Grubb's Reputation Skyrocketed Once at UW

Ryan Grubb was not a household name. When new coach Kalen DeBoer revealed he was bringing his offensive coordinator with him to the University of Washington but didn't immediately identify him, everyone had to scramble and turn to the Fresno State football website to see who this was.

In 20 months, Grubb's football profile has gone off the charts. Everyone involved with the college game knows about Grubb now.

He turned the Huskies' passing game into the national leader at a dazzling 369.8 yards per game. He drew two UW pay raises once the season ended for his instant success. He was pursued by Texas A&M and Alabama, even agreeing to a sit-down with vaunted Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban.

Grubb, with his rush of coaching success, wasn't going to make a break from DeBoer just yet. They've been together a long time and been through a lot, beginning at the University of Sioux Falls, followed by stops at Eastern Michigan, Fresno State and now the UW.

Yet they have gone their separate ways in the past. After claiming three NAIA national championships for Sioux Falls, DeBoer and his defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell each left for other jobs at Southern Illinois and North Dakota, leaving Grubb behind to be named Sioux Falls interim coach before the school hired Jed Stugart, who retained Grubb as his OC.

In establishing himself in the college coaching ranks, Grubb not only comes off creative, he's extra glib if not a little cocky.

The players like him because he's so straight-forward in his approach. Media members are drawn to him because he'll tell you exactly why something or someone didn't work out.

Going through the coaching staff, Grubb is next up in a series of profiles about each of the Huskies' coordinators and assistant coaches, summing up their time spent in Montlake so far and surmising what might come next for them.

Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb runs the Husky offense and usually has everyone's attention and respect.

The glib Ryan Grubb never fails to provide a straight-up reply to a media question.

Ryan Grubb takes a padded swipe at freshman running back Tybo Rogers working on his balance.

During spring ball, Ryan Grubb chats up the departed Taj Davis, now at California, and Giles Jackson.

On game day, Ryan Grubb sits high above the Husky Stadium playing surface, calling the shots.

Ryan Grubb and Michael Penix Jr. traveled to the most recent NFL combine in Indianapolis to give the quarterback some early exposure.

Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb usually draws a big media crowd, with the cameras and writers crowding all around him.

Ryan Grubb puts his running backs through balance drills and expects them to be multi-faceted.

Husky offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb smokes a victory cigar following an Apple Cup victory over Washington State in November.

Grubb is an Iowa native and an interesting guy who came off the farm to play running back and wide receiver for the Buena Vista University Beavers, an NCAA Division III program. At UW practices, he still likes to run routes and haul in a Michael Penix Jr. or a Dylan Morris toss.

Besides his passing-game genius, the slight of build Grubb amazingly has offensive-line coach stints on his resume, serving in that capacity for Sioux Falls, Eastern Michigan and Fresno State, which gives him the total offensive perspective.

Grubb is a guy who players want to play for, but they better hurry — because he's on such a fast track he won't be at the UW long. He won't be taking a lateral coordinator job either, rather he'll be a head coach somewhere that's badly in need of an infusion of energy, creativity and honesty to get a football program back on track.

For now, he'll direct Penix, Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, Troy Fautanu and the others for another season for a run at a Pac-12 championship and maybe more before everyone considers their future football options.

These days, if DeBoer refers to his Husky offensive coordinator without naming the guy, no one needs to rush off and look him up.

It's Ryan Grubb.

RYAN GRUBB FILE:

Background: Grubb was on a steady college coaching ascent for 17 years before the after-burners kicked in last season and made him one of the game's hottest properties, as someone identified with excitement and winning.

Big Fix: While Grubb focuses on a final season of Penix, he needs to keep Dylan Morris totally plugged in to everything that's going on because, like him or not, Morris likely will be the leading Husky starting quarterback candidate as a senior in 2024. With or without Grubb.

Special Project: Austin Mack. The 6-foot-6, 226-pound freshman has size, arm strength and plenty of ambition. Grubb needs to groom him to be ready to play in 2024 and seriously challenge Morris for the No. 1 job.

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