Aztecs notebook: Demetrius Sumler picked as interim defensive coordinator

San Diego State cornerbacks coach Demetrius Sumler will serve as SDSU’s interim defensive coordinator later this month, when the Aztecs play No. 25 North Texas in the New Mexico Bowl.

“The guys were excited about Coach Sumler taking the reins and leading,” SDSU coach Sean Lewis said when he made the announcement during Monday’s midday press conference. “I’m excited to see the work that he does and excited to see the way that our team responds.”

Nebraska hired SDSU defensive coordinator Rob Aurich on Sunday after he guided an Aztecs defense that ranks fifth in scoring defense (12.6 ppg) and seventh in total defense (266.7 ypc).

“That’s one thing about this club and about the culture that we’ve built,” Lewis said. “It’s built for moments like this. We’ve talked to the guys that moments of adversity, moments of change, are things that are going to be constants in their lives. Those are things that we have fought through this year. Our guys have responded at a really high level, and I know they will do that again.”

Sumler, a San Diego native who graduated from Cathedral Catholic High School, is in his eighth season on the SDSU staff.

Asked what has prepared Sumler for this moment, Lewis said, “His commitment to the program, first and foremost. He’s a great connector of young men and bringing people together.

“That’s important at this time right now, to have a leader that does that at an elite level, which he does. He’s a great football mind and, obviously, has the depth of knowledge of scheme from what he learned with Coach (Rocky) Long and previous coordinators he’s worked under.”

Lewis said he has watched Sumler develop his skillset and ideas.

“Now (it’s) for him to shape and craft the plan with the assistance of his assistants as we go forward,” Lewis said. “I’m excited to see him do that work, and I’m excited to see him lead our guys.”

DC search

Sumler will be among the candidates for the permanent position, Lewis said.

“The best interview he could possibly have is this opportunity,” said Lewis, who promoted from within the staff last year, when Aurich was defensive line coach. He replaced Eric Schmidt, who was hired as North Dakota head coach.

“I’m not new to this,” Lewis added. “Every year that I’ve been a head coach there’s been two or three assistants who have been replaced because of the success that we’ve had.

“I’ll work our process. I’ll see the landscape of what it is, and ‘Sum’ will be very much a part of the conversation.”

Lewis does not have a specific timetable for naming a new DC, although it would be good to have some clarity before the transfer portal opens Jan. 2.

“I have the scars from doing it too quick,” Lewis said. “It’s more important to get it right than to do it right now.”

SDSU’s recent signees as well as current players will be interested to know who will be leading the defense.

“Those guys are going to want to know who is the leader on the defensive side of the ball and what that looks like for their development and their path,” Lewis said. “I understand the urgency we need to have, but, again, it’s about getting the right individual to fit our culture.”

Good on good

North Texas has the nation’s top-ranked scoring offense (44.8 ppg) matched against an SDSU defense ranked fifth in scoring defense (12.6 ppg).

“Just getting to know them early on from the tape, they score points in bunches,” Lewis said. “They go quick. They go in a hurry. Obviously, we’ve done a good job of limiting people to being able to do that against us. Good on good. Strength on strength. Let’s go get it on. Put the ball down and let’s go play.”

The Aztecs were to return to a daily practice routine on Tuesday, getting in about a dozen workouts before departing for Albuquerque on Christmas Eve. The New Mexico Bowl is Dec. 27 (2:45 p.m. PT, ESPN).

Who’s at the helm?

North Texas introduced Neal Brown on Monday as its new head coach. Brown replaces Eric Morris, who was introduced Monday as Oklahoma State’s new coach. Amid the comings and goings, North Texas has yet to name the Mean Green’s interim head coach for the bowl game. Morris was going to coach the Mean Green if they made the College Football Playoff, but plans changed after they lost to Tulane in the American Conference championship game.

“Great thing is we’ve got a great staff in place now, I mean these are guys who have poured into these young men all season long,”  athletic director Jared Mosley said during Monday’s press conference. “We’ll manage this change probably in a way that’s similar to several other places going through this with us.”

Brown, who was head coach at West Virginia and Troy, served this season as a special assistant at Texas.