After a down year for Nebraska’s defense, Matt Rhule decided to make a coordinator change. Steven Branscombe / Getty Images
Nebraska is hiring San Diego State defensive coordinator Rob Aurich for the same role, a source familiar with the move said Sunday.
Aurich is expected to be around Nebraska as it prepares to play Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 31. Associate head coach Phil Snow will coordinate the defense in the game.
Aurich replaces John Butler, who Nebraska fired on Dec. 1 after one season as DC and two in Lincoln.
A Michigan native who played at Minnesota Duluth, Aurich spent the last two seasons at San Diego State, working as a defensive ends coach in 2024 before assuming coordinator duties in 2025. San Diego State ranked seventh nationally in total defense this year and allowed just 3.2 yards per carry, which ranked 16th. Nebraska ranked 14th in the Big Ten in rushing defense this year, giving up 171.3 yards per game. San Diego State also had the nation’s fifth-ranked pass defense and had more interceptions (13) than passing touchdowns allowed (11). Aurich was one of 63 nominees for the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant.
Aurich previously worked as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Idaho from 2022 to 2023, with stints at South Dakota (2018-21) and Bemidji (Minn.) State (2014-17) before that.
It’s the second job Matt Rhule has filled this weekend. Nebraska fired offensive line coach Donovan Raiola on Saturday and quickly moved to hire Georgia Tech’s Geep Wade to replace him.
Rhule moved fast to make a change at defensive coordinator after the Huskers finished the 2025 season at 7-5, allowing 77 points in losses at Penn State and at home against Iowa.
Penn State rushed for 231 yards and four touchdowns against Nebraska. Iowa also scored four times on the ground and rushed for 213 yards.
“In this league, in this stadium, you better stop the run and run the football,” Rhule said last week.
San Diego State ran a base 4-2-5 defense under the guidance of Aurich. It finished 9-3 with a 6-2 mark in the Mountain West. Coached by Sean Lewis, in his second season, San Diego State is set to face North Texas in the Dec. 27 New Mexico Bowl.
Dec 8, 2025
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