Washington State hires Claeys as defensive coordinator
Published 1:30 am Monday, January 8, 2018
Herald news services
PULLMAN — Tracy Claeys has been named Washington State’s defensive coordinator.
Claeys most recently served as the head coach at Minnesota, until his ouster after last season. The position in Pullman opened up when Alex Grinch left the Cougars to take a job at Ohio State.
“Tracy comes highly recommended as a tremendous teacher, strategist and a player’s coach with an impressive body of work that has withstood the test of time,” Leach said in a university press release issued Monday. “We are fortunate to have him at Washington State University.”
Claeys, 49, went 11-8 in his two seasons at Minnesota, capped by a 17-12 upset over Leach and Washington State in the 2016 Holiday Bowl. In Pullman, Claeys will reunite with WSU defensive line coach Jeff Phelps, who coached alongside him in Minneapolis from 2011-16.
“I would like to thank Coach Leach and Washington State University for the opportunity to coach the Cougs,” Claeys said in the press release. “I am looking forward to getting to Pullman, working with a great staff and getting to know the players.”
