Entering his fourth season in charge of EWU’s defense, Jeff Schmedding took over as Eastern’s defensive coordinator in 2015 after a highly-successful seven-year stint coordinating special teams. The 2018 season will be his 15th year on the coaching staff, and he will coach safeties for the ninth year this season.
Eastern’s defensive highlights in 2017 came in road victories over Fordham and North Dakota. Eastern's defense held Fordham to just 217 yards total and 1-of-17 on third down, and EWU recorded 11 three-and-outs. Ten Eagles combined for a school-record 10 sacks as the Rams finished with just 26 net yards rushing. Versus the Fighting Hawks, the Eagles held UND to a net 103 yards rushing and an average of 3.3 per rush. The Eagles had a 191-29 advantage in total offense in the second quarter when EWU out-scored UND 14-0.
Among the safeties he coaches is Mitch Fettig, who earned third team All-Big Sky honors in 2017as a junior after earning honorable mention in 2016. He enters his senior season as one of EWU’s top professional football prospects, with career totals of 231 tackles, five interceptions and 12 passes broken up in his 34-game career (33 as a starter).
In their last seven victories of the 2016 season, the defense allowed just 113 points (16.1 per game). That seven-game stretch was Eastern’s best since the 1997 team allowed only 105 in its first seven games of the season. In a 38-0 victory over Richmond in the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs, Eastern’s defense recorded its first shutout in 102 games (since 2009), and the 205 yards Richmond had were the fewest EWU had surrendered in its last 28 outings.
Eastern’s defense in 2016 allowed only 24.4 points per game (second-best in the league) during its 8-0 Big Sky Conference season after allowing 40.7 against three challenging non-conference opponents. A year after allowing 57 points in a 41-point setback to Montana, the Eagle defense allowed just 16 in the rematch on Oct. 29 at Roos Field in EWU’s 35-16 victory. The 16 points for the Griz was their lowest total in the last 33 games in the series dating back 32 years to a 14-14 tie in 1984.
Four defensive players earned first team All-Big Sky honors in 2016, including safety Zach Bruce, a former walk-on who ended up playing 50 games in his career (24 as a starter). Like Schmedding, Bruce attended University High School in Spokane, Wash., and finished ranked among the school’s all-time leaders with 115 tackles (13th) as a senior and 227 (23rd) in his career. In addition, safety Mitch Fettig earned honorable mention all-league honors as a sophomore, and Samson Ebukam earned All-America honors as a senior defensive end – the first All-American with Schmedding as coordinator. Ebukam went on to play significantly for the Los Angeles Rams as a rookie in 2017.
In 2015, Schmedding coached senior safety Todd Raynes, who earned third team All-Big Sky Conference honors. One of the team’s top defensive performances of the season came in a 14-13 win over Weber State to extend EWU’s winning streak to six. The defense made a one-point lead hold up for the final 21 minutes of the game, then clinched the win by forcing four-straight incompletions on the final possession of the day for Weber State.
His previous coordination of special teams was particularly impressive, especially in 2014. Eastern ranked third in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision with four blocked punts, and was 10th in net punting (38.4), 15th in kickoff return average (22.8) and 28th in punt returns (11.8). Jake Miller was a second team All-Big Sky selection as a punter after ending his career with three school records, including single season punting average (44.9 to rank fifth in FCS) and career average (43.8 to rank fifth all-time in FCS). Cooper Kupp earned third team honors as a return specialist and Cody Hecker was honorable mention on special teams. Kicker Tyler McNannay also earned honorable mention after making all 11 of his field goal attempts.
In 2013, Bo Schuetzle earned first team All-Big Sky honors as a special teams player. Kicker Jimmy Pavel earned All-America and first team All-Big Sky honors in 2012 after making 17-of-19 field goal attempts. Also in 2012, Shaq Hill was a Freshman All-American as a kickoff returner, and special teams standout Chase King earned honorable mention all-league honors. Punter Jake Miller earned Freshman All-America accolades in 2011 after finishing with a 44.26 average per kick, which nearly set a school record. Also, kick coverage specialist Darriell Beaumonte earned first team All-Big Sky Conference honors in 2010 and second team recognition in 2011.
As a position coach, Schmedding tutored several of the finest safeties in school history. Tevin McDonald earned All-America and first team All-Big Sky Conference accolades in 2014 for the Eagles, then signed a free agent contract with the Oakland Raiders in the NFL. Zach Bruce earned honorable mention. Eastern finished with 19 interceptions to rank fifth in FCS, and was 11th in turnovers gained with 28.
In 2013, McDonald earned third team All-Big Sky honors and Allen Brown earned honorable mention. Schmedding’s safeties in 2012 featured Academic All-American Jeff Minnerly, Freshman All-American Jordan Tonani and second team All-Big Sky selection Brown. Tonani also earned honorable mention All-Big Sky honors after Minnerly suffered a broken clavicle early in the year.
In 2010 and 2011, Schmedding coached All-America safety Matt Johnson, who earned first team All-Big Sky Conference honors both seasons before being drafted in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Minnerly was honorable mention All-Big Sky both seasons. Schmedding also coached cornerbacks in 2011, a group which included eventual three-time first team All-Big Sky selection T.J. Lee III. In 2010, Eastern led the NCAA Championship Subdivision in interceptions with 26 as EWU won the NCAA Division I title.
Schmedding coached linebackers in 2008 and 2009, including J.C. Sherritt, who in 2009 was named to all six FCS All-America teams and was second in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award given to the top defensive player in the FCS. He set school and Big Sky records with 170 total tackles as he led the FCS with an average of more than 14 stops per game. Sherritt would go on to win the Buck Buchanan Award in 2010.
Schmedding coached safeties in 2007 – including two-time All-Big Sky performer Bryan Jarrett. He previously worked with linebackers (2004), the secondary (2005) and safeties (2006) as a graduate assistant from 2004-06 in his first three seasons at EWU.
He graduated in 2002 from Eastern with his bachelor’s degree in health education and a minor in physical education/coaching. He was a health and fitness teacher at University High School in Spokane Valley for two years, and coached football. He was defensive coordinator and coached linebackers for the Titans in 2002 and 2003.
While he was an EWU undergraduate, he also did his student teaching at U-Hi in 2001 and coached football. In 1999 and 2000 he coached the defensive line, and in 2001 he coached linebackers. The Titans were Greater Spokane League champions in 2000. He also helped coach track and field from 2002-2004.
Schmedding graduated in 1996 from University High School where he was a standout wrestler and football player. He was the runner-up at the State 3A Wrestling Championships in the 215-pound division.
He and his wife Kristine were married in July 2006. Their son, Jack Conrad Schmedding (8), was born on Oct. 27, 2009 – conveniently between EWU’s victories over Montana State on Oct. 24 and Portland State on Oct. 31. A second son, Blake David Schmedding (6), was born on Jan. 27, 2012.
