Texas Tech Defensive Coordinator Matt Wallerstedt Fired for Suspected Substance Abuse

The Texas Tech football program announced on Thursday, Sept. 18, that it has fired its defensive coordinator, Matt Wallerstedt, for seemingly coming in to work under the influence of an unknown substance.

The alleged incident happened on Monday, Sept. 15, and Wallerstedt was sent home from campus immediately, according to a source who spoke with ESPN.

This was Wallerstedt's second year on the Texas Tech staff. He had followed head coach Kliff Kingsbury to Lubbock from Texas A&M, where the two had coached together for one year back in 2012.

It has not yet been announced who will officially replace Wallerstedt, though Fox Sports is suggesting that the job will likely go to current outside linebackers coach Mike Smith. According to CoachingSearch.com, whoever ends up taking over will be the school's seventh defensive coordinator since the start of the 2007 season.

Reps for Texas Tech have yet to comment on the firing or the alleged incident.

This past Saturday, Wallerstedt's defensive unit gave up an astounding 438 yards rushing, though only 61 through the air, in a 49-28 loss to Arkansas. Sophomore running back Alex Collins led the Razorbacks with a total of 212 yards on 27 carries against the Red Raider defense.

Under Wallerstedt's tutelage so far this season, Texas Tech ranks last in the Big 12 in rushing defense through Week 3.

The team has a bye this weekend, giving the Red Raiders some time to regroup before hitting the field again for their next game, Sept. 25, against Oklahoma State. 

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