Monday morning update: Charlie Strong confirmed at his regular Monday press conference he will take over defensive coordinator duties, while Vance Bedford will join Clay Jennings with the defensive backs.
According to a report late Sunday night from Orangebloods proprietor Geoff Ketchum, Texas head coach Charlie Strong will take over defensive coordinator duties from Vance Bedford moving forward.
The Texas defense was scalded in a 49-31 loss to Oklahoma State Saturday, where the Cowboys gained 555 yards of total offense and averaged 14 yards per attempt on 28 passes.
It's worth noting the Oklahoma State came game immediately after a bye week in which Strong pledged to retool the defense following a 50-43 setback at California. As it stands, the 2-2 Longhorns rank 91st in yards per play allowed, 116th in scoring defense and 126th in pass efficiency defense. The 2015 Texas defense allowed the most yardage in school history.
Demoting Bedford would be a tough decision for Strong; the pair has coached together continuously since 2008, first with Bedford as defensive backs coach under coordinator Strong at Florida, then with Bedford as Strong's coordinator at Louisville and now Texas.
"You look at his track record," Strong said last week of not demoting Bedford after the Cal loss. "It’s not like he just all of a sudden forgot how to coach defense. … He’ll own up to it. It’s not like he’s running from it."
Change has been the only constant on Strong's staff since his 6-7 debut. Now two-plus seasons in, only Bedford and linebackers coach/recruiting coordinator Brian Jean-Mary remain from the original staff Strong hired in 2014.
Texas faces Oklahoma, fresh off a 52-46 win at TCU, Saturday in Dallas. The Longhorns were in a similar situation a year ago, entering the Red River Shootout 1-4 after a 50-7 loss at TCU, but rebounded with a 24-17 upset of the Sooners.