Report: SMU hires former UVA, Arizona State coach
Rhett Lashlee and the SMU Mustangs have found their new strength and conditioning, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Joe Hoyt. Former Virginia strength and conditioning coach Shawn Griswold is reportedly heading to the Hilltop to join Lashlee’s first-year staff.
Griswold has a long coaching resume with stops at Virginia, Arizona State, Pittsburgh, Tulsa, Louisville and Utah State – his alma mater. He worked under current Hawaii head coach Todd Graham for the majority of his career but joined Bronco Mendenhall’s staff at UVA in 2018. Mendenhall abruptly stepped down from his post last month.
Arizona State appeared in five bowl games while Griswold worked for the Sun Devils. Also, Virginia went to two bowl games during Griswold’s time on staff. They should have played in two more but the team opted out in 2020 and had to cancel in 2021 due to COVID. The Cavaliers were supposed to play SMU this post-season in the Fenway Bowl in Boston.
The news comes days after another former Cavalier announced that he’s coming to Dallas to join the Mustangs. Joe Bissinger, a multi-year contributor for Virginia on the offensive line, is transferring to SMU. Bissinger is a Houston native.
SMU offensive lineman enters transfer portal
SMU senior offensive lineman Alan Ali went into the NCAA transfer portal on Wednesday, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz. The four-year starter for the Mustangs accepted an NFLPA Bowl Game invite in early December but is now in the transfer portal. The bowl game takes place on Jan. 26.
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After redshirting the 2017 season on the Hilltop, Ali started almost every game for the Mustangs from 2018-2021. He’s an academic standout and helped SMU to top-15 finishes in scoring offense from 2019-2021.
Coming out of high school in Fort Worth, Texas, Ali chose SMU despite holding several Power Five offers. He had offers from Arizona State, California, Colorado State, Iowa State, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Tulsa and Virginia.
The 6-foot-5, 309-pound center will have plenty of suitors from programs yearning for more experience now that he’s available. Since this is Ali’s first transfer, he will be immediately eligible wherever he chooses to go next.
