Jay Norvell has made significant changes to his defensive staff room at Colorado State, sources told FootballScoop on Friday.
Defensive coordinator Freddie Banks will not return, sources said. Banks was an original member of Norvell's staff in Fort Collins after coaching one season for Norvell at Nevada and then spending 2021 as the defensive coordinator at Montana State. The move comes as the Rams led the Mountain West in scoring defense in conference games, allowing 19.9 points per outing to edge out Boise State at 20.0.
Assistant defensive line coach Jake Vang also will not return, sources said.
Linebackers coach Adam Pilapil is expected to serve as interim defensive coordinator for Colorado State's to-be-determined bowl game, and Norvell is not expected to elevate any of his graduate assistants to coach in that game, sources said.
Colorado State has increased its win total in all three of Norvell's seasons to date. After going 3-9 in 2022, the Rams improved to 5-7 last fall and sit at 8-4 today. Colorado State was in line to play No. 10 Boise State in Friday night's Mountain West Championship until a 28-22 loss to Fresno State on Nov. 23.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.