SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State football head coach Sean Lewis announced that Rob Aurich has been named the team’s defensive coordinator. Aurich, who coached the EDGEs last year in the 4-2-5 Aztec defense, will now coach the linebackers. He takes over for Eric Schmidt, who was named the head coach of his alma mater North Dakota earlier this week.
Aurich joined the SDSU staff last December after serving as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for two seasons at Idaho. In his first season on The Mesa in 2024, Aurich helped Trey White earn first-team all-Mountain West accolades after one of the most productive seasons by a San Diego State defensive lineman in program history, accounting for 12 ½ sacks and 18 ½ tackles for loss.
In 2023, Aurich helped guide the Vandals to a historic season that included the program’s first ever postseason win that led to their first FCS quarterfinals appearance since 1993, as well as their first nine-win season since 2016. Overall, Idaho finished their year with a 9-4 record and ranked as high as No. 4 in the national polls. Statistically, they ranked 15th in FCS in total defense (306.8) and lowered their points allowed per game for the second consecutive season under Aurich to 22.8 ppg.
Prior to Idaho, Aurich spent four seasons on the staff at South Dakota (2018-21: special teams coordinator/inside linebackers) and four years at Bemidji State (2015-17: defensive coordinator/linebackers; 2014: special teams/linebackers). Aurich played at Minnesota Duluth, winning national titles with the Bulldogs in 2008 and 2010, finishing as the program's second-leading tackler all-time with 310 stops, a first-team All-American in 2009, and a three-time all-NSIC honoree.
Earlier this week, San Diego State announced its opponents for the 2025 campaign, including non-conference home games at Snapdragon Stadium against Stony Brook to kick off the season on Aug. 28 and California on Sept. 20, and MW contests at a date to be determined against Boise State, Colorado State, San José State and Wyoming.
The Aztecs return midseason All-American and first-team all-MW EDGE Trey White, second-team all-league kicker Gabe Plascencia, and honorable mention defensive backs Eric Butler and Chris Johnson, linebacker Tano Letuli, wide receiver Jordan Napier and offensive lineman Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli.
Recently, San Diego State Athletics, in partnership with the Aztec Link collective, launched the bold “Link the 619” campaign. This initiative is a direct call to action for the San Diego community to rally behind our SDSU student-athletes through impactful Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) contributions.
The “Link the 619” campaign’s goal is to recruit 1,000 members for the Aztec Link collective, with each supporter contributing an annual gift of $619 or $52 per month – an amount that symbolizes our local area code and showcases our strong community connection. Members of the Aztec Link collective will enjoy exclusive benefits that include tickets to special events, behind-the-scenes content, and limited-edition collectibles available in the upcoming offseason.
The "Link the 619" campaign emphasizes the critical importance of NIL opportunities in providing an unparalleled experience for both student-athletes and dedicated fans. By fortifying the relationship between Aztec Athletics and our community, we are committed to delivering essential resources that will elevate the student-athlete experience, attract top talent, and ensure the long-term success of our program.
For more information or to donate to the "Link the 619" campaign, click here.