Colorado State defensive coordinator fired after disappearing from sideline in the middle of blowout loss
Colorado State was embarrassed on its own turf by Oregon State on Saturday to the tune of 56-26. The blowout loss came just a week after the Rams gave up 59 points to UTSA in a 59-45 loss, signaling that there is a very real issue on the defensive side of the ball, but the deficiencies are no longer on Colorado State defensive coordinator Tyson Summers.
This is because Summers is no longer with the program, and it’s the manner in which he was dismissed from his duties that has understandably caused quite the stir.
Colorado State head coach Jim Mora stripped Summers of his play-calling duties during the Rams’ loss to Oregon State on Saturday, and did so before the first half had even ended.
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Head coach Jim Mora of the Colorado State Rams celebrates a touchdown run by quarterback Ksaan Farrar (2) of the Colorado State Rams during the first half of a game against the Oregon State Beavers on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
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Summers was on the sideline to begin the game, but disappeared after the Beavers took a 14-0 lead with just over one minute left in the opening quarter. Speaking with reporters after the game, Mora explained that he had relieved Summers of his play-calling duties and that the now-former defensive coordinator “made the decision on his own to leave the field.”
Mora confirmed that Summers is no longer with the Rams’ program, which isn’t necessarily a surprise given the assistant coach’s decision to bolt from the contest.
Tyson Summers the defensive coordinator for the Colorado State Rams works with players during practice on campus in Fort Collins, Colorado, on August 19, 2025. (RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
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Following Summers’ exit, co-defensive coordinator Kenny McClendon took over defensive play-calling duties, but the shakeup didn’t exactly work out for Colorado State.
The Beavers scored another 21 points in the second quarter and carried a 35-14 lead into halftime before capping off the 30-point victory on the road.
Head coach Jim Mora of the Colorado State Rams disagrees with an official during the Border War rivalry football game against the Wyoming Cowboys on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
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Mora is in his first year as head coach at Colorado State after spending the last four seasons at UConn, leading the Huskies to back-to-back nine-win seasons in 2024 and 2025.
Summers served as the interim head coach of Colorado State for the final five games of the 2025 season after Jay Norvell had been fired. Mora elected to retain Summers as defensive coordinator, but it’s fair to assume that relationship is no more.
