After losing incumbent defensive coordinator Eric Schmidt to the head coaching post at North Dakota, San Diego State coach Sean Lewis is poised to turn inward for the program's next defensive coordinator.
Sources tell FootballScoop that Lewis is elevating Rob Aurich to serve as the Aztecs defensive coordinator.
Aurich has been on staff coaching the defensive ends.
But he's got previous experience as both a defensive and special teams coordinator, the former being in his immediate time before coming to San Diego State.
Aurich guided the defense for Jason Eck's revival of Idaho football; Aurich's defense helped the Vandals advance into the FCS Playoffs in each of the 2022-23 seasons, culminating in a run to the quarterfinals last season.
He helped coach linebackers and coordinator special teams at South Dakota prior to those stints, and Aurich also served as defensive coordinator at Bemidji State.
Aurich will try to help the Aztecs make a key step forward in 2025 and elevate a defense that finished the 2024 campaign allowing almost 30 points per game.
San Diego State will open Year 2 of the Lewis era Aug. 28 at home against FCS program Stony Brook.