Texas Tech DC Matt Wallerstedt Resigns: Latest Details and Reaction

Texas Tech defensive coordinator Matt Wallerstedt has resigned for personal reasons. The school released a statement, providing comments from both Wallerstedt and head coach Kliff Kingsbury:

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Matt Wallerstedt has resigned his duties as defensive coordinator at Texas Tech due to personal reasons.

'I have submitted my resignation to Coach Kingsbury effective immediately because I want the best for the Red Raider program, and this will allow them to go in a different direction on defense,' Wallerstedt said. 'I love our players and this school and have only their best interest in my heart and mind. I wish Coach Kingsbury every success this season.'

'We appreciate all Coach Wallerstedt has done at Texas Tech and we wish him the best,' Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury said.

Previous reports claimed he was fired after it was suspected he was under the influence of a substance at the football facility on campus.    

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Chris Vannini of CoachingSearch.com initially reported that Wallerstedt was dismissed, noting that he joined head coach Kliff Kingsbury on the Red Raiders staff in 2013 after the pair spent one year together under Kevin Sumlin at Texas A&M.   

Jake Trotter of ESPN.com confirmed the initial report, adding that Wallerstedt got "sent home from the facility Monday" for appearing to be "under the influence of an unknown substance":

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Wallerstedt is expected to be replaced by co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Mike Smith, who played for the Red Raiders and graduated from Texas Tech in 2004.

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The Red Raiders are off this weekend, before traveling to play Oklahoma State next Thursday night.

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Trotter cited sources who said that Texas Tech's inept performance on defense—the group allowed 438 rushing yards in a blowout loss at home against Arkansas—had nothing to do with Wallerstedt's exit. 

Wallerstedt, whose defense allowed 30.5 points per game in 2013, was in the second year of a three-year deal he signed after coming to Texas Tech. In August, Kingsbury spoke to Don Williams of RedRaiders.com about bringing back his defensive coordinator for this season despite the poor stats.

"I just wanted there to be some consistency here on that side of the ball," said Kingsbury. "For so long, they’d seen a guy leave, a guy leave, a guy leave. I just felt that (length of contract) would kind of promote that."

The Red Raiders' next defensive coordinator will be their fifth since the start of 2010. Having a week off before traveling to play a conference rival (Oklahoma State) does allow Texas Tech to get acclimated to a new voice. 

In addition to his work at Texas Tech and Texas A&M, Wallerstedt served as the defensive coordinator at Air Force from 2010 to 2011 and was the linebackers coach at Kansas State from 2006 to 2007.