This portion of the calendar is a time of tumult in the coaching industry. If you're here, you know that. #ThatTimeOfYear and all. Inevitably, a handful of coaches each winter wind up accepting a new opportunity, and then leaving that new opportunity for a newer, better opportunity a few weeks later. It happens every year.
But it rarely happens in the way it has for Roc Bellantoni.
This saga starts in early November. Sensing he need to make changes or it would be his job on the line, Florida Atlantic head coach Tom Herman dismissed Bellantoni as the defensive coordinator of the Owls.
The following week, Herman himself was let go. Assistant head coach Chad Lunsford was appointed FAU's interim head coach, and his first move as the new interim boss was to bring Bellantoni back as defensive coordinator.
"Roc is a good man and a really good coach," Lunsford said. "This was an easy decision. I thought it was important for our team that Roc came back because he was well-liked, well-respected, and he has meant a lot to the FAU program for many years. We are glad to have Roc back. The seniors, the linebackers, the defense -- even the offense -- was excited about him being back and it brought a different energy for us."
Keep Tappin! #SPEAR 11As1 pic.twitter.com/O2NrmUXeG3
— Roc Bellantoni (@CoachRoc) November 18, 2024
Fast forward a couple weeks now. FAU's season ends, and the Owls name Zach Kittley their new head coach.
On Dec. 31, sources told FootballScoop that Bellantoni had agreed to stay on Kittley's staff as assistant head coach and defensive ends/outside linebackers coach. In this business of constant turnover, clearly, Bellantoni and Florida Atlantic were meant to be: Kittley would be the fourth FAU head coach to hire Bellantoni, starting back in 2015 when he first came to Boca Raton under Charlie Partridge, and continuing under Herman, Lunsford and, now, Kittley.
Turns out, that arrangement lasted, officially, about a week.
Sources confirmed to FootballScoop on Tuesday that Bellantoni has now agreed to join Hugh Freeze's Auburn staff as outside linebackers coach. CBS and ESPN first reported the news.
Bellantoni spent the 2022 season on the Plains under Bryan Harsin, and now returns as Freeze builds toward his all-important third season leading the Tigers.
Again, stories like Bellantoni's happen every winter. But rarely do they happen exactly like Bellantoni's.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.