Colorado State defensive coordinator Tyson Summers has left the team after being replaced MID-GAME in Saturday’s 56-26 loss to Oregon State.
The Rams were well beaten in Fort Collins with Summers removed from his playcalling duties in the first half of the 30-point loss.
New head coach Jim Mora Jr. wasted no time making a change as Kenny McClendon took over the headset from Summers, who then left the sidelines.
And head coach Mora confirmed after the game that Summers had departed the program immediately, with McClendon set to take over the role permanently.
‘That is a permanent move that was made following tonight’s game,’ Mora said.
Mora confirmed he had removed Summers from playcalling duties but insisted he never told him to leave the sidelines, saying doing that ‘wasn’t anything that I would ever consider.’
Tyson Summers left the sidelines after losing Colorado State defensive playcalling duties
Head coach Jim Mora confirmed Summers has left the program immediately after the incident
‘He made the decision on his own to leave the field,’ Mora added, ‘and he is no longer with the program.’
Colorado State lost 59-45 to UTSA last week and has endured a shocking start to the season defensively.
The team sits 2-3 but has allowed 193 points in five games, an average of 38.6 points per game.
Summers was retained by new coach Mora this year having been re-hired by the Rams under old head coach Jay Norvell in 2024, almost a decade after serving as defensive coordinator in 2014.
‘I’m incredibly honored and excited to be back at Colorado State,’ said Summers at the time.
‘I want to thank Coach Norvell for this opportunity and I’m looking forward to leading a group of talented young men.
‘My wife Beth and family enjoyed our time in Fort Collins when we were here prior and we’re looking forward to reuniting with the Fort Collins community and Ram fans.’
When Norvell was fired last year, Summers took over as interim head coach and went 0-5 in his five games.
Summers was retained by new head coach Mora entering the 2026 season in his existing role
The Rams suffered a heavy 56-26 loss to Oregon State to drop to 2-3 on the season
He was previously head coach at Georgia Southern in 2016 and 2017, going 5-7 in his first season then being fired in his second year after an 0-6 start.
Summers has held jobs at Florida, Georgia and Colorado among others during his 20-plus-year career as a coach.
The Rams are back in action against Texas State next week with McClendon set to keep calling plays having moved to Colorado State as defensive line coach with Mora, who he worked with for four years in Connecticut.
