Former Auburn defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding is reportedly heading back to the West Coast.

Schmedding, who was not retained on staff by new Tigers coach Hugh Freeze, is set to become the defensive coordinator at Washington State under head coach Jack Dickert, per multiple reports. ESPN’s Pete Thamel was first to report Schmedding’s move to the Cougars.

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Washington State had not yet announced Schmedding’s hire as of Sunday at noon.

Schmedding spent two seasons at Auburn under former coach Bryan Harsin, and he was the lone assistant coach with ties to Boise State who was retained on staff during the final month of the season after Harsin was fired on Halloween. Schmedding served as the Tigers’ inside linebackers coach and defensive run game coordinator during the 2021 season and was promoted to defensive coordinator this past season following the offseason departure of Derek Mason.

When he was promoted to defensive coordinator, Schmedding signed a new two-year deal worth $1 million annually, doubling his salary from the 2021 season. The contract was set to expire Jan. 31, 2024, and since he was not retained, the program was set to owe him the remaining $1 million on his deal. That buyout will be offset by his salary at Washington State.

Schmedding becomes the most recent former Auburn assistant to land a new job. Former linebackers coach Christian Robinson was hired to the same role at Baylor last month, while edge coach/special teams coordinator Roc Bellantoni was named defensive coordinator at Florida Atlantic, and former offensive line coach/interim co-offensive coordinator Will Friend was hired for a to-be-determined position at Mississippi State.

In his lone season as Auburn’s defensive coordinator, Schmedding’s defense surrendered the third-most points in a single season in program history, and the Tigers gave up 40-plus points in a program-record five times. Auburn’s defense allowed 29.5 points per game, which was the second-worst mark in the SEC (ahead of only Vanderbilt) and 97th nationally. Though the overall numbers were not great for Auburn under Schmedding, the unit enjoyed a late-season renaissance during the final month after Harsin was fired. The Tigers put up three quality performances in November before getting thumped by Alabama’s high-powered offense in the Iron Bowl.

Prior to joining Auburn’s staff, Schmedding spent two seasons as Boise State’s defensive coordinator under Harsin. During his first season with the Broncos, they finished in the top-15 nationally in sacks and top-25 in scoring defense.

He spent the prior 15 seasons at Eastern Washington, including four as defensive coordinator. During that time, Schmedding helped lead the program to an FCS national championship in 2010 and another appearance in the title game in 2018. That year, Eastern Washington’s defense led all of FCS in defensive touchdowns and was second in forced turnovers.

Schmedding began his career as a graduate assistant at Eastern Washington from 2004-06 before being promoted to safeties coach in 2007. He was the Eagles’ special teams coordinator from 2008-14, and during that time he also coached linebackers (2008-09) and safeties and nickels (2010-14).

Now the 44-year-old Spokane, Wash., native is heading back to his home state with an opportunity to lead another Power 5 defense in a much more familiar setting.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.