PULLMAN – Darcel McBath, a former Texas Tech defensive back who spent the 2017 football season as a defensive quality control assistant at Washington State, has been elevated to “assistant coach,” the Cougars announced Tuesday.

McBath’s title is still to be determined, but the five-year NFL DB will work with the WSU secondary – a void the Cougars needed to fill with the departure of defensive coordinator/secondary coach Alex Grinch. McBath’s promotion comes on the same day NCAA programs are permitted to hire a “10th assistant.”

“Darcel is a great coach who played a big role in our defensive success last season,” Leach said in the WSU release. “He has several years of NFL experience to draw from and will be a strong recruiter. Darcel is very technical in his teaching, and relates well to our players.”

McBath worked closely with Grinch during the 2017 season, helping the Cougars become one of the country’s stingiest units against the pass. WSU finished the season ranked No. 9 nationally in passing yards allowed per game (170.9) and tied for ninth in turnovers gained (28). The Cougars were seventh in pass efficiency defense and opponents threw just 11 touchdowns passes – good enough for fifth-fewest nationally.

From 2004-08, McBath was a standout DB for Leach’s Texas Tech teams, earning All-Big-12 first team honors after leading the country in interceptions.

McBath was a second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2009 NFL Draft and spent two seasons with Denver, one with Jacksonville and two with San Francisco. He made one tackle in Super XLVII with the 49ers.

Leach, who filled Grinch’s spot by hiring ex-Minnesota head coach Tracy Claeys as WSU’s new DC, is expected to make one more coaching hire to replace outside linebackers coach Roy Manning. UCLA hired Manning as a special teams coordinator.