Nick Grimes completed his fourth season at Campbell in 2020, and second as offensive coordinator.
Named offensive coordinator in January 2019, Grimes has also coached CU’s tight ends since arriving in Buies Creek in 2017.
With a four-game, all-FBS schedule in 2020, the Campbell offense ranked No. 4 among FCS programs in total offense, No. 3 in rushing offense, No. 5 in passing offense and No. 1 in third down conversions at season's end.
QB Hajj-Malik Williams, the 2020 Preseason Big South Offensive Player of the Year, was named Stats Perform FCS Player of the Week following the Camels' season opener at Georgia Southern, collecting 310 yards of total offense (237 passing, 73 rushing) with three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing).
Additionally, two Camels on the offensive side of the ball were named Second Team All-Big South despite not playing a league schedule in 2020, including tight end Julian Hill and offensive lineman Tyler McLellan.
In his first season leading the Camels’ offensive unit, Grimes led one of the most balanced attacks in the Big South, rushing and passing for 200 or more yards six times apiece in 2019. Campbell rushed for a season-high 269 yards at North Alabama, while passing for a season-best 266 yards in a win at Mercer, along with 515 yards of total offense. Camels also rushed for 100 or more yards six times on the season.
Four Camels on the offensive side of the ball earned Big South postseason honors, including league Offensive Freshman of the Year Hajj-Malik Williams. Offensive linemen Jacob Cuddington (first team) and Tyler McLellan (second team) were tabbed All-Big South, while tight end Michael Wooten garnered Big South All-Academic accolades.
Williams, also named First Team Freshman All-America (HERO Sports), was a four-time Big South Freshman of the Week in 2019, earning honorable mention FCS Freshman of the Week nods five times. A STATS Jerry Rice Award Watch List finalist, the quarterback became the second Camel and first CU freshman to pass for more than 2,000 yards in a single season, throwing for 2,042 yards and 17 touchdowns.
In 2018 as Campbell’s tight ends coach, the Camels ranked ninth nationally in sacks allowed, clearing the way for six individual 100-yard rushing games. Campbell owned the Big South's second-ranked passing offense, standing No. 2 in pass completions, passing yards and pass touchdowns, as well as third-ranked totals in scoring offense, touchdowns, total offense, rush yards and rush TDs.
Grimes also coached Michael Wooten, who was named to the Big South’s All-Academic team, as well as second team all-conference by Phil Steele. Wooten has been CU’s starter at tight end over the last 21 consecutive games, posting 13 catches for 73 yards during the 2018 season.
In Grimes’ first season on the Campbell staff in 2017, the Camel offense became the PFL’s top offensive unit, averaging 436.5 yards per game, a school record. CU was also one of two squads in the PFL to average more than 33 points per game, adding the league’s second highest rushing yards per game total at 228.7 yards per game.
Campbell also set school record for passing touchdowns (21) and passing yards per game (207.8), while hitting the 50 touchdown mark for the second time in the program’s 10 seasons.
Grimes moved to Campbell after three seasons at Cincinnati under head coach Tommy Tuberville, guiding the Bearcats’ tight end and fullbacks in 2015 and 2016. In 2014, Grimes’ first season at Cincinnati, he was a graduate assistant for tight ends and special teams.
During his time at Cincinnati, the Bearcats participated in the 2015 Hawaii Bowl, as well as the 2014 Military Bowl, claiming a share of the 2014 American Athletic Conference title.
Grimes has a wealth of experience at the prep level in Texas, coaching three seasons at Navasota High School from 2010-12, and at Howe High School in 2013 where he was the offensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coordinator.
After lettering one season as a defensive lineman at Tulsa, Grimes transferred to Sam Houston State, where he lettered three seasons, earning honorable mention All-Southland Conference accolades, also taking a SHSU offensive lineman of the year nod. He was also a team captain.
Grimes graduated from Sam Houston State in 2009 with a degree in kinesiology and a minor in history.
Originally from College Station, Texas, Grimes finished his high school career at J.H. Rose High School in Greenville, N.C. where he was an all-district performer, state championship defensive player of the game and a Shrine Bowl participant.
He and his wife, Cortney, have two children, daughter Tatum and son Gus.
