The Washington State Cougars football program finds itself in turmoil after the school announced Monday that defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding has been relieved of his duties. The dismissal comes on the heels of a late-season slide that saw the Cougars drop three consecutive games to opponents with losing records, squandering what had been a promising 8-1 start.
“I appreciate all the hard work that Jeff has had for our program during his two years here in Pullman,” head coach Jake Dickert said in a statement. “After evaluating our program, we have not met the standard defensively, and I felt a change was needed for the best interest of the program.”
High Hopes Dashed
Washington State entered November with an impressive 8-1 record and dreams of a Pac-12 title. However, those aspirations quickly unraveled as the Cougars suffered upset losses to New Mexico, Oregon State, and Wyoming – all teams with losing records. The stunning collapse raised serious questions about the defense’s performance and Schmedding’s leadership.
Despite facing a relatively weak schedule that ranked 111th nationally in difficulty, the Cougars struggled mightily on defense down the stretch. They finished the season ranked 90th in scoring defense, 116th in total yards allowed per game (429.0), and an abysmal 120th in rushing yards allowed per attempt (5.2). The inability to stop the run proved especially costly in the three November losses.
Schmedding’s Brief Tenure
Schmedding arrived in Pullman prior to the 2023 season after spending the previous year as the defensive coordinator at Auburn under Bryan Harsin. He had worked with Harsin since 2019, first at Boise State before following him to Auburn. Prior to that, Schmedding coached at his alma mater, Eastern Washington, from 2004 to 2018.
Ironically, it was current head coach Jake Dickert who had served as Washington State’s defensive coordinator before being promoted to the top job in 2021. The decision to part ways with Schmedding suggests Dickert believes a fresh perspective is needed to get the defense back on track.
What’s Next for the Cougars?
The search for a new defensive coordinator now begins for Washington State. Given the program’s proud defensive tradition, Dickert will surely be looking for a proven coach who can quickly instill a tougher, more disciplined approach. Some names to watch include:
- Pete Kwiatkowski – The former Washington and Texas defensive coordinator is well-respected in the Pac-12 and could be lured back to the Pacific Northwest.
- Barry Odom – Recently fired as the head coach at UNLV, Odom has a track record of success as a defensive coordinator at Memphis and Missouri. His attacking 4-2-5 scheme could be an ideal fit in Pullman.
- Tim DeRuyter – Currently the defensive coordinator at Oregon, DeRuyter has a wealth of experience in the Pac-12 and has consistently fielded stingy, hard-nosed units. Prying him away from a division rival would be a major coup.
Whoever gets the job will be tasked with rebuilding a defense that looked lost and overmatched far too often in 2024. For a program that has prided itself on toughness and grit, this season’s late collapse was simply unacceptable. How Dickert and the new defensive coordinator address these issues will go a long way in determining if the Cougars can rebound and re-establish themselves as a force in the Pac-12 going forward.
As for Schmedding, it remains to be seen what his next step will be. Still a relatively young coach at 46, he will likely have other opportunities to ply his trade, though he may have to take a step back to a position coach role first. Regardless, his brief tenure in Pullman will be remembered more for how it ended than anything else – a stark reminder of the razor-thin margins and high expectations in major college football today.
