After just one season, Matt Rhule made the decision to part ways with defensive coordinator John Butler less than a week ago.
Following the departure of Tony White for the same post at Florida State following the 2024 season, Nebraska’s run defense gave up nearly 70 additional yards per game under Butler’s guidance this year than they did in 2024, ranking 95th nationally in college football.
That slide prompted Rhule to make a change.
To fix the issue, Rhule is landing an architect of one of the top defenses in college football, and a fast rising star on the defensive side of the ball.
Rob Aurich, who just wrapped up his second season with Sean Lewis at San Diego State orchestrating the defense, is set to become the new defensive coordinator for the Huskers, according to multiple reports this evening.
FootballScoop can confirm the hire.
The Aztecs were among the top 25 teams in the country in stopping the run this season, allowing just under 110 yards per game.
2025 marked the first season for Aurich as a coordinator at the FBS level, as he previously served as the defensive play caller at Idaho (FCS) for two seasons, helping them to a quarterfinals run and to five ranking to end the 2023 season.
He joined Sean Lewis’ staff at SDSU as the Edges coach and was elevated to defensive coordinator last fall after Eric Schmidt left to become the head coach at North Dakota, his alma mater.
He took over a unit that had allowed 207 yards per game rushing an immediately improved it by nearly 100 yards per game, catapulting up the rankings by over 100 spots as well in the category.
The Aztecs defense was also one of the best in college football at keeping opponents off the scoreboard, allowing just 12.6 points per game, good for 5th in the country.
Before he joined the staff at Idaho, Aurich was on staff at South Dakota (FCS) for four seasons, where he worked with the special teams and linebackers and also served as defensvie coordinator early in his career at Bemidji State for a few seasons.
A native of Spring Lake, MI, Aurich was a team captain and All American linebacker at Division II Minnesota Duluth, where he helped the program with two national titles in three seasons. He would win MVP of the national title game in 2008 and won Defensive Player of the Year Award for the NSIC in 2009. He left the school ranked second all-time in tackles with 310.
ESPN notes that Aurich’s deal is a three-year deal with the Huskers. Financial figures have not yet been disclosed.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.