Adam Gristick enters his first season as assistant linebackers coach after being elevated having spent his first two years with the organization as a defensive assistant working with his current position group.

Gristick arrived in New Orleans after serving on the coaching staff at Eastern Illinois from 2018-22. During his tenure in Charleston, he coached linebackers all five seasons and added the title of defensive game run coordinator in 2020. In 2022, he was promoted to defensive coordinator.

Gristick joined Eastern Illinois after serving two seasons as an assistant at Syracuse, one as a defensive quality control coach and one as a graduate assistant. The Orefield, Pa., native's coaching career began in quality control at Missouri State in 2015.

Gristick played linebacker at Eastern Illinois from 2010-14, where as a three-year starter he made 194 career tackles with 20 stops for loss and three interceptions, helping EIU capture back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference championships and FCS playoff appearances from 2012-13 He earned his bachelor's degree in exercise science in 2015.

PLAYING CAREER: Eastern Illinois 2010-14.

Adam Gristick coaching career