Dec. 2 — PULLMAN — Jeff Schmedding is no longer Washington State’s defensive coordinator.
The Cougars announced in a statement Monday, saying Schmedding would not return as the team’s defensive coordinator. Schmedding held that role for two seasons at WSU, whose defense left a lot to be desired this season.
“I appreciate all the hard work Jeff has done for our program during his two years here in Pullman,” WSU head coach Jake Dickert said in a press release. “After evaluating our program, we have not met defensive standards and I felt a change was necessary in the best interest of the program. I informed Jeff this morning that he will no longer be the defensive coordinator and I wish him good luck in his future.
Playing eight Mountain West schools this regular season, WSU finished 90th nationally in defense, allowing an average of 28 points per game. The Cougars have allowed 255 passing yards per game, No. 116 in the nation, and they have given up 174 rushing yards per game, No. 96.
The Cougs have also missed 157 tackles this season, seventh most nationally.
Under Schmedding’s leadership, the Cougs’ defense was primarily responsible for several losses. In WSU’s loss to Oregon State last month, the Beavers put up a season-high 41 points, more than their scores in their previous three games combined. Coming into this game, OSU was coming off a scoreless loss to Air Force.
In the Cougs’ loss to New Mexico in November, Lobo quarterback Devon Dampier racked up 193 rushing yards and three touchdowns, finishing with the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds. UNM used the same variation of a guard QB for much of the game, and WSU rarely found a way to slow him down.
Washington State also allowed 28 points in a win over Utah State last month, seven on a long touchdown run when the game was out of reach. The Cougs held Hawaii to just 10 points and Fresno State to 17, but they also gave up 52 to San Jose State and 30 to FCS Portland State.
Schmedding served as Boise State’s defensive coordinator in 2019 and 2020 under head coach Bryan Harsin, who brought Schmedding with him when he accepted the head coaching job at Auburn in 2021. In 2022, When Harsin was fired mid-season, Schmedding was the only assistant retained by interim head coach Cadillac Williams.
After that season, when Hugh Freeze took over as Auburn’s full-time head coach, Schmedding was not retained. That led him to WSU.
Schmedding began his career at Eastern Washington, where he worked for 15 seasons in various roles, including special teams/safeties coach in 2011, when the Eagles won the FCS national championship.
