Here’s all you need to know about Auburn’s experienced coach, Wesley McGriff, according to Wikipedia. McGriff is expected to join Mike Elko’s staff at Texas A&M as defensive backs coach. From 1987 to 1989, Wesley McGriff was a linebacker at Savannah State. He was also named the conference’s Male Academic Athlete of the Year in 1989.
He received his bachelor’s degree with honors in 1990. McGriff continued his education, earning a master’s degree in public administration from Georgia Southern University in 1993. In addition, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army in 1990 and served in the Army Reserves until 2001.
Professional Career
Wesley McGriff began his coaching career at his alma school, Savannah State, from 1990 to 1994. He began as a graduate assistant and progressed to mentoring running backs before taking on secondary coaching duties in 1991. Later in his career, McGriff rose to roles such as defensive coordinator and even served as temporary head coach. McGriff broadened his coaching expertise at Kentucky State, where he served as associate head coach, defensive coordinator, and secondary coach from 1995 to 1999. His coaching career continued when he accepted the position of secondary coach at Eastern Kentucky in 2000.
McGriff’s experience diversified throughout the years:
- Cornerbacks and running backs coach at Kentucky in 2001 and 2002.
- Baylor, where he mentored cornerbacks and served as a recruiting coordinator from 2003 to 2006.
- 2007-2010: University of Miami, specializing in defensive back coaching.
He then held positions at Vanderbilt in 2011, Ole Miss in 2012, and between 2016 and 2018. McGriff was the defensive backs coach for the New Orleans Saints from 2013 to 2015. His affiliation with Auburn started in 2016, then continues from 2019 to 2021, and then again in 2023. He also provided advice to Florida in 2021 and Louisville in 2022. McGriff was named defensive backs coach on December 23, 2022, his third return at Auburn.
Private Life
Wesley McGriff is married to Karen, who has been a consistent source of encouragement for him from his early days, supporting him through thick and thin. They have a kid called Jaylen together.
Texas A&M Is Expected to Hire Auburn’s Secondary Defensive Coach.
Auburn’s football team finished the season with a 6-7 record after losing 31-13 to Maryland in the Music City Bowl. According to recent rumors, Auburn will split ways with one of its defensive staff members. Auburn’s secondary and cornerbacks coach, Wesley McGriff, is expected to leave after only one season. McGriff is expected to join Mike Elko’s coaching staff at Texas A&M. He is in his third year at Auburn, having previously served in 2016 and between 2019 and 2020.
McGriff will work with Ishmael Aristide, who just joined Texas A&M as the cornerbacks coach. Aristide’s relationship with Elko dates back to his time at Duke when he coached for a season under Elko before moving on to Texas A&M. If the allegations from Sunday are correct, this move will add to McGriff’s significant coaching experience.
