In an effort to hire more in-building coaches, the administration has fired head football coach Adam Grimes. The 1995 Lincoln graduate, who also works as a mortgage underwriter, did not hold a teaching position at Lincoln.

“We have a unique opportunity with the amount of projected teaching positions for next year,” athletic director Jeff Peeler said. “We have the opportunity to bring in more in-building coaches.”

The Cardinals went 4-16 over Grimes’ two years as head coach. He coached in the program for eight seasons.

Now, the search is on for a new coach before the spring season starts on May 27.

“The job has been posted,” Peeler said. “I’ve already got over ten applicants. There’s definitely a sense of urgency, but not a sense of panic.”

This is the program’s fourth coaching change in the past 10 years.

“The goal is to have an in-building coach for the next 20 years,” Peeler said. “That’s the ideal outcome.”

In 2009 Grimes was the interim co-head coach after Chad Carlson, now the offensive coordinator at Lakeridge, was fired for an incident involving police on the MAX platform outside of the Rose Garden. Mike Fanger then took over for two seasons before leaving for the head coaching job at West Linn.

Grimes then stepped in at the start of the 2012 season, but was fired two months before this year’s spring football season.

“I think that the program was ready to go in a new direction,” junior quarterback Nate Ostmo said. “I don’t think it had anything to do with him as a person. The last two seasons we’ve been unsuccessful, and I think that the administration sees that it’s time for a change.”

Moving forward, Grimes plans to focus on raising his two children while continuing to coach elsewhere. But, he will never forget the years he spent as a Cardinal.

“Without question the thing I will miss the most will be the young men that played for me, he said. “The relationships that were created can never be taken away.”

Although players will miss Grimes, they are also ready to turn the program around.

“I loved him as a coach, I wish him nothing but the best,” Ostmo said “but I’m ready and excited for something new.”

With his exit from Cardinal football, Grimes leaves an imprint on the program through the bonds he formed with the school; an imprint that the records don’t show.

“I think Adam is one of the better men I’ve worked with,” Peeler said “He’s an outstanding mentor and coach, and his character is flawless.”