West Virginia is parting ways with defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia University football coach Neal Brown has often said this season that he and his staff must continue to find solutions to a consistently struggling defense. One solution came Tuesday morning with Brown’s announcement that WVU and defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley had parted ways and that linebackers coach/special teams coordinator Jeff Koonz would become defensive coordinator for the rest of the season.

Lesley was nominated in both 2020 and 2021 for the Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant coach in college football. But the Mountaineers’ defense had been one of the worst in the country in several categories this season, and Brown decided changes needed to be made.

“I met with Coach Lesley this morning and informed him that we are making a change at defensive coordinator.” Brown said in a statement released Tuesday morning. “I am very grateful for the investment Jordan and his family have made in West Virginia football. Jordan was a key part of my staff for almost a decade. He is a good football coach and a great person. I know he will have a lot of success in the future and we will do everything we can to help him on his journey.

Lesley came to WVU with Brown from Troy University in 2019, serving first as defensive line coach, then co-coordinator and defensive line coach in 2020 and as defensive coordinator since 2021. In 2021, WVU was ranked fifth in the nation in red zone defense, ranking 18th in fewest defensive first downs allowed and fourth down percentage, 29th in third down defense and 37th in total defense (350.1).

This year, however, the Mountaineers weren’t even close to those numbers. WVU entered the bye week tied for 95th in scoring defense (28.4 points per game), 84th in total defense (382.5 yards per game), 114th in passing defense (261 per game), 117th in passing defense (261 per game). in opponent fourth down conversions, 124th in opponent third down conversions and 127th in opponent passer rating (161.99).

Defensive mistakes and failures have directly contributed to the losses this season. WVU blew a 10-point lead in the final five minutes of a loss to Pittsburgh, missing 75 and 77 yards on touchdown runs, respectively. Against Iowa State, WVU’s 7-0 lead turned into a 14-7 deficit after a missed pass allowed Jaylin Noel to catch Rocco Becht’s pass and run untouched for a 60-yard score, which led to a 17-second touchdown drive for the Cyclones. which they converted on three-thirds of downs. Against Kansas State, WVU allowed quarterback Avery Johnson to finish the game with a career-high 298 yards passing, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Even in wins, the defense showed its mettle, as it did in Saturday’s win over Arizona. The Mountaineers led 31-13 with 13:31 left in the game, but the Wildcats cut the lead to 31-26 with two touchdown drives, boosted by long passes up the middle with the same coverage.

The mountaineers ran a two-deep zone called a “Tampa two.” In this formation, the central defender’s task is to defend the midfield. Twice this resulted in linebacker Trey Lathan facing All-American wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. The first time, Noah Fifita passed a 34-yard touchdown pass to McMillan. On the next drive, McMillan caught a pass from McMillan to the WVU 6 for 49 yards. Fifita capped that drive with a three-yard touchdown run.

“That’s not a good defense.” Brown said Monday. “Maybe once, you know, you get stuck. …but we should never have put him in that position again. And it’s really not Trey’s fault.

“What happens, and not defending anything, but what happens is when you fight, you try to find answers.” he added. “And the answer wasn’t very good.”

The search for answers this season hasn’t been easy for WVU. Each new solution attempt may have worked temporarily, but other problems have arisen. Brown cited the second defense as an example. It worked well against Oklahoma State and was effective against Iowa State, but Arizona was able to solve it.

“When things aren’t going well, keep changing your ways.” he said. But when you do that, other teams have good coaches too. So you hide one aspect, but the coaches see it and you get exposed in the other aspect.”

Koonz joined WVU in 2020 after coaching linebackers at Ole Miss. He has one year of experience as Cincinnati’s co-defensive coordinator in 2016. He has also been WVU’s special teams coordinator since 2020, and this is one of the Mountaineers’ strengths.

“These decisions are never easy, but I am confident that this change is in the best interest of our program and puts us in the best position to finish strong.” Brown said in his Tuesday statement. “Our players have a tremendous opportunity ahead of them and I know they will give their all for WVU. Jeff Koonz will be promoted to serve as offensive defensive coordinator. I know he and our entire staff will do everything in their power to help us succeed.