UAB has appointed Todd Grantham as its new defensive coordinator, according to On3's Pete Nakos. Grantham, a seasoned defensive coordinator, brings a wealth of experience to the team. He has previously held this role at Oklahoma State, Georgia, Louisville, Mississippi State, and Florida. However, his time at Oklahoma State in 2025 was not a success, as the Cowboys ranked poorly in defense. Grantham's most impressive season was in 2011 with Georgia, where they finished fifth in total defense and second in the SEC with 34 sacks. Despite this, his subsequent seasons at Georgia and Louisville were less successful. Grantham's journey continued with Mississippi State and Florida, but he was not retained when Dan Mullen was fired in 2021. He then served as a defensive line coach for the New Orleans Saints for two seasons. Grantham also spent time as a defensive analyst at Alabama under Nick Saban. His coaching career began at Virginia Tech in 1990, where he started as a defensive ends coach. UAB is currently facing challenges, having just experienced a 4-8 season that led to the firing of coach Trent Dilfer. The Blazers' defense was ranked poorly, and Grantham's task is to significantly improve this area. With his extensive experience, Grantham is expected to bring a positive change to UAB's fortunes, aiming for a winning season and a better defensive performance.
