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Had three shutouts this year. One was Cal. Only bad performance was giving up 38 to Hawaii. Looks like a great hire based on the limited data points
New DC hired
- Thread starter SolichFan1987
- Start date
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New DC hired
Schedule detail
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Not sure if it will work, but I appreciate that it’s not a buddy hire and seems to be based on performance
Don’t understand why something like this couldn’t have happened last year. Still wasted the easiest schedule ever
Don’t understand why something like this couldn’t have happened last year. Still wasted the easiest schedule ever
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Will he have the authority to fire Bradden and Dvorecek?
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he doesn't run a 3-3-5 lol
collins has no clue who rob aurich is any more than you do
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The offense gave up 2 INTs and 2 lost fumbles against Hawaii fwiw
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Definitely have the same instincts as you.
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I need to join the Happy Ending Society
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I took it to mean that he was going to be asked to run a 3-3-5 even though that's not what he knows. There is precedent for this happening. Unless I'm wrong and Butler coached on defenses who ran the 3-3-5 before he came here. If we get the 4-2-5 I'll be very happy
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The HES politburo has spoken. Anyone disagreeing with this will be sent to Tater Island for reeducation.
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If I guarantee someone will give me 69 likes, I’ll pay for the article and post it
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I like this hire for many of the reasons listed here. Also agree with an earlier poster who outlined big name and tenured DCs dont often make lateral moves because it’s risky…they want HC jobs. (See Tony White)
High energy up and coming culture guy, who teaches the game and has had a history of disciplined play…I’m in.
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I’ll bite…and I’ve been drinking. There’s your 69!
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If Rhule forces him to run the 3-3-5 instead of doing what he’s comfortable with then we deserve to go 4-8.
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Taken both in and out of context is going to lead to something
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Here is a breakdown of Rob at SDSU in 2025 including his advanced metrics improvements at SDSU vs 2024. Hope you enjoy the entire executive profile.
And while you are here, and a Husker fan, Geep Wade, the new OL coach, is a top 10 graded active OL coach in the FBS. #GBR!
EVALUATION REPORT
ROB AURICH
San Diego State (2025 - First Year DC)
Mountain West Conference
2025 Broyles Award Nominee | Hired by Nebraska
Report Date: December 7, 2025
ROB AURICH
San Diego State (2025 - First Year DC)
Mountain West Conference
2025 Broyles Award Nominee | Hired by Nebraska
Report Date: December 7, 2025
THE TRANSFORMATION
This is one of the most dramatic single-year defensive transformations in recent FBS history. Rob Aurich was promoted from Edge Rushers coach to DC in December 2024 after Eric Schmidt left for the North Dakota HC job. The results have been staggering.
Historic Achievements
• 3 shutouts in one season - First time in SDSU Division I history (since 1969)• Only Wisconsin (4 in 2019) has had more shutouts in a season over the last 10 years nationally
• Broyles Award Nominee - One of 63 nominees for college football's top assistant coach award
• Hired by Nebraska - Reportedly leaving for Big Ten DC job after one season
SCHEDULE CONTEXT
The Mountain West features below-average offenses. This context is essential but does not diminish the magnitude of improvement.
Key Finding: Even SOS-adjusted, the 2025 defense ranks #8 in PPA, #11 in Success Rate, #7 in Pass Defense. This is a legitimate elite defense even accounting for weak competition. The transformation from #111 SOS-adjusted to #8 SOS-adjusted is extraordinary.
WHAT CHANGED
Massive Improvements
Pass Defense: #102 → #2 (+100 ranks) - The pass defense went from below average to elite. Pass Defense PPA improved from 0.283 to -0.059 (negative = good for defense). This is the single biggest improvement.Passing Downs: #131 → #2 (+129 ranks) - From worst 4% nationally to elite. When opponents need to throw on obvious passing downs, they now can't. PPA dropped from 0.515 to 0.056.
Success Rate: #117 → #6 (+111 ranks) - Opponents went from converting at will (46.1%) to being stopped consistently (33.9%). This is elite conversion prevention.
Rush Defense: #115 → #15 (+100 ranks) - From one of the worst rushing defenses to top 15. Rush Defense PPA improved from 0.208 to -0.006.
Power Success: #115 → #22 (+93 ranks) - Short yardage defense went from 80.3% opponent success to 64.0%. The defense now wins goal-line and short-yardage situations.
Still Below Average
Havoc Rate: #122 → #65 (+57 ranks but still just average) - Improved from bottom 11% to middle of the pack. The defense doesn't rely on disruption - it wins through efficiency and coverage.Stuff Rate: #132 → #89 (+43 ranks but still below average) - Still struggles to stop runs at the line of scrimmage. The run defense improvement came from limiting yards AFTER contact, not from stuffing at the line.
BACKGROUND
Career Path
2014: Bemidji State - Special Teams/LBs2015-17: Bemidji State - DC/LBs
2018-21: South Dakota - ST Coordinator/ILBs
2022-23: Idaho - DC/LBs (FCS Quarterfinals, program's first postseason win)
2024: San Diego State - Edge Rushers Coach
2025: San Diego State - DC (promoted Dec 2024)
2026: Nebraska - DC (reportedly hired)
Idaho Track Record (2022-23)
Before San Diego State, Aurich was DC at Idaho (FCS). His track record there showed the same pattern of improvement:• Pre-Aurich: 30+ PPG allowed for 3 consecutive years
• 2022 (Year 1): 25.4 PPG allowed, FCS Playoffs
• 2023 (Year 2): 22.1 PPG allowed, FCS Quarterfinals, ranked #4 nationally
Turnovers increased from 8 to 21 year-over-year. This is a coordinator who has transformed defenses before.
STRENGTHS
Immediate Transformational Impact: Defense PPA improved from #109 to #3 in Year 1. Points allowed dropped from 29.6 to 12.2 PPG. This is one of the largest single-year defensive improvements in FBS history.Pass Defense Mastery: Pass Defense PPA #2 nationally (-0.059). Passing Downs PPA #2 nationally (0.056). When teams have to throw, they can't move the ball. This is elite coverage scheme and execution.
Efficiency Defense: Success Rate #6, Standard Downs PPA #8, Explosiveness #8. Aurich's defense doesn't rely on splash plays - it wins by preventing opponent efficiency on every down. Fundamentally sound football.
Proven Track Record: Transformed Idaho from 30+ PPG allowed to FCS Quarterfinals in 2 years. Now transformed SDSU from 29.6 PPG to 12.2 PPG in Year 1. Pattern of improvement follows him.
Scheme Versatility: Runs 4-2-5 with Cover 2/Cover 3 elements. Emphasized simplification and speed ('AztecFAST' on defense). The scheme allows players to play fast rather than think.
SOS-Adjusted Excellence: Even accounting for weak MWC offenses (#73 avg), the defense ranks #8 SOS-adjusted in PPA. This is genuine elite performance, not schedule inflation.
WEAKNESSES & CONCERNS
Havoc Generation: Havoc Rate improved from #122 to #65 - still just average. The defense wins through coverage and efficiency, not disruption. Against elite offenses that can sustain drives, the lack of havoc may be exposed.Stuff Rate: Stuff Rate #89 - still below average. The defense allows opponents to gain yards at the line of scrimmage. Rush defense improvement came from tackling and pursuit, not from dominating the line.
Schedule Strength: Mountain West offenses average #73 - below FBS median. SDSU has not faced a top-25 offense in 2025. How this defense performs against elite offenses is unknown.
One-Year FBS DC Sample: This is his first year as an FBS defensive coordinator. The Idaho success was FCS. While the results are extraordinary, sustainability at higher competition levels is unproven.
Front Seven Havoc: Front 7 Havoc #95 - below average. Despite coaching the edge rushers to success in 2024 (Trey White had 12.5 sacks), the overall front seven disruption is lacking.
Big Ten Test Coming: Reportedly hired by Nebraska for 2026. The Big Ten features elite offenses (Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State). This will be the true test of whether the scheme scales to top-tier competition.
ANALYSIS
Rob Aurich's first year as San Diego State's defensive coordinator is one of the most remarkable single-year transformations in recent FBS history. The numbers are staggering: Defense PPA from #109 to #3, Success Rate from #117 to #6, Points Allowed from 29.6 to 12.2 PPG. Three shutouts - the first time SDSU has done that since joining Division I in 1969. A Broyles Award nomination. And a reported hire to Nebraska after just one season.What's most impressive is HOW the defense improved. This isn't a havoc-based scheme that generates turnovers through aggression - Havoc Rate is just #65. Instead, Aurich built an efficiency defense: Success Rate #6 (opponents can't convert), Explosiveness #8 (opponents can't hit big plays), Passing Downs #2 (opponents can't throw when they need to). This is fundamentally sound, assignment football that wins by doing the basics at an elite level.
The pass defense transformation is particularly notable. Pass Defense PPA went from #102 to #2 - from below average to elite. Passing Downs from #131 to #2. The coverage scheme and execution are clearly working. Combined with the DB Havoc improvement (#133 to #26), the secondary went from liability to strength.
The Idaho track record adds credibility. Aurich took a defense allowing 30+ PPG and got them to the FCS Quarterfinals in two years, lowering points allowed each season. The SDSU transformation follows the same pattern but compressed into one year. This suggests genuine scheme and teaching ability, not luck.
The SOS caveat applies but doesn't explain everything. Mountain West offenses average #73 - weak. But even SOS-adjusted, the defense ranks #8 in PPA and #11 in Success Rate. You can't fake a 17+ point improvement in scoring defense (29.6 to 12.2 PPG) entirely through schedule. Something real changed.
The questions are fair: Can this scale to Big Ten competition? Will the lack of havoc generation be exposed against elite offenses? Is one year enough sample size? Nebraska is betting the answer is yes. The Broyles Award voters think he's among the best 63 assistants in the country. The data says this is a coordinator who transformed a defense from bottom-20% to top-3% in one year. That's not nothing.
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Aurich looks like he'd be an absolute menace in a bar fight so based on my metrics I'm N
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3 shutouts is impressive. I don’t care who it’s against. Would of been interesting to see how he did against one the best offenses in North Texas in the bowl game but I assume he’ll be in Nebraska
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A good chunk has to be ChatGPT hence the “—“‘ overusage. Nobody types like that
