LARAMIE -- The Wyoming football program will be looking for its third defensive coordinator in as many season after it was announced Sunday that Jake Dickert, along with AJ Cooper and John Richardson "will be seeking opportunities" with Washington State, who hired former Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich last week.

These defections from the Cowboy football staff now leave four openings: DC, defensive ends and co-special teams coordinator, cornerbacks coach and a safeties coach to replace Dickert, who also served in that role after Willie Mack Garza resigned mid-season.

Dickert, who replaced Scottie Hazelton in Laramie last offseason, has been on Craig Bohl's staff since 2017. Dickert also served under Bohl at North Dakota State from 2008-10.

In 2019, the Cowboys ranked 43rd overall in total defense, including 11th in the country against the run, allowing just 107 yards per game.

Cooper, who was promoted to defensive run-game coordinator in earlier this month, arrived on campus with Bohl back in 2014. From 2009-13, Cooper was Bohl's defensive ends coach at NDSU. Richardson also came to Laramie from Fargo.

Under Cooper, Wyoming defensive ends Garrett Crall, Solomon Byrd, Josiah Hall and others helped lead the Cowboys to 31 sacks on the season, which was good enough for second overall in the Mountain West Conference.

Richardson's cornerbacks had a much rougher 2019 campaign, allowing 256 yards per game. UW's secondary was decimated by departures, injuries and lack of depth last season though showed major improvement over the past three weeks of the season, including holding Georgia State to 156 passing yards in a 38-17 victory in the Arizona Bowl.

Bohl did not have a comment in today's press release.

The coaching staff is out recruiting with the traditional February signing day right around the corner. Three-star corner, Chau Smith, who said he was committed to UW but failed to sign on the dotted line in December, is still set to visit Purdue and -- Washington State -- this month.

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