A Big 12 team has parted ways with their defensive coordinator for the second time in as many days.
On Monday, the UCF Knights parted ways with defensive coordinator Ted Roof just eight games into his second stint with the team.
Tuesday, the West Virginia Mountaineers shook up their defensive staff. Defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley was let go and will be replaced by linebackers coach Jeff Koonz for the rest of the season.
Matt Zenitz of 247Sports had the news first.
West Virginia is expected to part ways with defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley, sources tell @CBSSports/@247Sports.
Was a Broyles Award nominee in 2020 and ‘21 but WVU is currently ranked third-worst in the Big 12 in scoring defense.https://t.co/q5KEiDNzVz pic.twitter.com/D7JyQqaDJp
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) October 29, 2024
West Virginia is set to promote linebackers coach Jeff Koonz to interim defensive coordinator, a source tells @CBSSports/@247Sports.
Koonz has been at West Virginia since 2020. Previously worked at Ole Miss.https://t.co/q5KEiDN261 https://t.co/2HGB5u5Mny
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) October 29, 2024
Lesley had been with the Mountaineers since 2019, originally coaching the defensive line before becoming co-defensive coordinator in 2020 and taking on the role on his own starting in 2021. Lesley was nominated for the Broyles Award in 2020 and 2021, given to the nation’s top assistant coach, but West Virginia’s defense has struggled this season en route to its 4-4 record entering November.
As Zenitz notes, Koonz has been at West Virginia since 2020. He had previously worked for Texas, Auburn, Cincinnati, and Ole Miss.
West Virginia will look to get its new defensive coordinator comfortable during this week’s bye week before returning to action on November 9 against the Cincinnati Bearcats.
