Jeff Grimes stood to leave after watching Wisconsin’s volleyball team lose to No. 1 Nebraska at the UW Field House with his family last October. Instead of heading for the exits, however, he stayed because he noticed the rest of the Badgers’ faithful singing the school song.

“I’m watching the whole student section, and they’re standing there singing with pride as if we had just won the match,” said Grimes, who is entering his second season as Wisconsin’s offensive coordinator. “I’m seeing maybe some recent grads there with their girlfriends and I’m seeing people that are middle-aged and I’m seeing some people that are retired and have probably been coming to Badger events for 50, 60 years and they’re all singing the song with so much pride.

“And it just hit me. The love for this place was internalized in me and it touched me. It just made me more than ever say, ‘I want to win for these people. I want these people to have a football program that they’re proud of.’”

In the latest episode of the Badger Connect Podcast with Mike Heller, Grimes discusses his coaching career, life off the field, his desire to succeed at Wisconsin and more. You can view the full episode here: