Welsey McGriff was expected to coach defensive backs on Mike Elko's staff at Texas A&M in 2024. Apparently, he's changed his mind and returned to a familiar area code.
According to multiple reports, McGriff is headed back to Auburn in a similar on-field assistant role under Hugh Freeze. McGriff coached under Freeze in 2023 in the same role.
McGriff, who held the title of “pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach” for the Aggies, was hired by Freeze prior to the start of the 2023 season.
In early October, Freeze announced that McGriff was dealing with a “personal issue” and shifted roles to the "chief of accountability and in-house recruiting" rather than his on-field stats.
Prior to his arrival on the Plains, McGriff spent over three decades coaching in college, making stops at Kentucky (2001-02), Baylor (2003-06), Miami (2007-10), Vanderbilt (2011), Ole Miss (2012; 2016-18), Auburn (2016; 2019-21; 2023), Florida (2021) and Louisville (2022) in various roles.
One of the critical reasons for Elko's decision to hire McGriff was likely due to his relationship with defensive backs coach Ishmael Aristide. The two worked together at Auburn (2016) and Ole Miss (2017-18) under Gus Malzahn and Matt Luke.
With McGriff's departure, the Aggies have nine on-field coaches currently employed entering spring practice: Collin Klein (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Trooper Talyor (associate head coach/running backs), Holman Wiggins (co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers), Adam Cushing (run game coordinator/offensive line), Patrick Dougherty (special teams coordinator/tight ends), Jay Bateman (defensive coordinator/linebackers), Sean Spencer (co-defensive coordinator/defensive line), Tony Jerod-Eddie (defensive line), and Aristide.
Elko could hold a search or promote senior defensive analyst Bryant Gross-Armiento. Gross-Armiento served as secondary coach for the Aggies last season and was retained by Elko as part of the previous staff.
The Aggies open the 2024 season at Kyle Field against Notre Dame on Aug. 31.
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