After a dominating 2025 defensive performance, the Aztecs football program will be searching for a new coordinator for next season. Rob Aurich is leaving San Diego State after just one season as defensive coordinator to take over the same role at Nebraska.
The Cornhuskers reportedly have signed him to a three-year deal, as the program moves on from their prior coordinator.
During the 2025 season under Aurich’s leadership, San Diego State’s defense underwent a crazy good transformation. The Aztecs finished the year ranked 5th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 12.6 points per game — a dramatic improvement from the 29.6 points per game they allowed the prior season, which had ranked 97th.
The unit also ranked 7th nationally in total defense, was top-5 in passing yards allowed, and finished 12th in third-down conversion defense. And it wasn’t just all yards and points—the defense logged 32 sacks on the season and repeatedly stifled opposing offenses on their way to being undefeated at home.
For that work, Aurich was named a nominee for the Broyles Award, which recognizes the nation’s top assistant coach.
Nebraska is bringing in Aurich in hopes he can revamp a defense that struggled at critical moments in 2025. The Huskers surrendered 77 points over their final two games—a collapse that helped spur the decision to change coordinators.
The expectation is that Aurich’s can do it again. Already proven the ability to build stout, disciplined unit and doing so in short order—HC Matt Rhule is banking his 2nd DC with San Diego State ties will shore up Nebraska’s weaknesses. Former long time SDSU DC Tony White served under Rhule in Lincoln during the 2023-2024 seasons.
Where Aurich and Tony White’s similarities also meet are in their charismatic personalities that the players really came to play for. After SDSU’s 3-9 season a year ago, it was surprising that so many defensive players returned to the program for their senior seasons under the motivation that Aurich would be the man leading it.
With Aurich’s history of elevating defenses and developing players, it gives the program optimism that a similar turnaround could take hold in Lincoln.
As Nebraska prepares for the upcoming bowl and beyond, all eyes will be on Aurich to see whether he can translate the turnaround he achieved at San Diego State to the Big Ten level however.
As for San Diego State, the fourth DC in four years will be their next hire. No immediate names were suggested on who will lead the Aztecs moving forward. Stay tuned as we are sure the move may be made very quickly.
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