Months after coming to an agreement to simply walk away from Texas Tech, for whatever reason, Matt Wallerstedt is getting back in the game. The former Texas Tech defensive coordinator will be named the new defensive coordinator for the Charlotte 49ers, a program entering just its third season of football in 2015 and preparing to move up to the FBS and join Conference USA.
Sports Illustrated was the first to report the news of Charlotte hiring Wallerstedt, which reunites Wallerstedt with his former roommate at Kansas State, Brad Lambert. Lambert is the head coach of the 49ers. The Charlotte Observer notes Wallerstedt will replace Bruce Tall. Tall’s defense allowed 31.6 points per game and 479.3 yards per game in 2014, although the program did start from scratch so the numbers should not be expected to be too glowing.
Wallerstedt was removed from his post in Lubbock in September, and a verbal back-and-forth between he and some coaches continued into November before the former assistant coach and school agreed to move on from the ugliness. Wallerstedt picked up a gig with Louisiana-Lafayette and ended the year as a linebackers coach for the Ragin’ Cajuns. Now he is getting a chance to show what he can do as a defensive coordinator once more, and he should be given plenty of time to work with Charlotte being such a new program.
Charlotte joins Conference USA in 2015 after playing two seasons at the FCS level.