University of Idaho Athletics

Defensive Coordinator and linebackers coach Rob Aurich enters his second season leading the defense for the Vandals after spearheading a big improvement in his first season in Moscow.

The Vandal defense improved defensive scoring from 31.55 allowed points per game in 2021 to just 25.42 PPG in 2022 on the Vandal defense. The Vandals also increased turnovers from eight to 21 year-to-year. The 2022 defense allowed more than 70 fewer yards per game than the season before, ranking 24th in the FCS for total defense (336.8).

In Big Sky play, the Vandals were the best team in the league in Yards Per Game and led the league in interceptions. The Vandals averaged 23.38 PPG in conference games in 2022, compared to 31.13 in fall of 2021. 

Two Vandal linebackers earned Second-Team All-Big Sky honors and six total Vandal defenders were named to the teams in 2022.

Aurich came to Idaho after four seasons on the staff at South Dakota where he served as the Special Teams Coordinator and Inside Linebackers Coach. Over his four-year tenure, players he coached earned All-MVFC honors 12 times, including All-American Linebacker Jack Cochrane who led the Coyotes with 102 tackles this season and earned a spot in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl All-Star Game.
 
"I've known Rob since he was a player at Minnesota Duluth and he impressed me as a player. He was an All-American on a national championship team," Eck said. "He is high-energy, smart and has a great personality. This is probably my most important hire, I don't have the expertise and I wanted to get someone that I can really trust. He did a great job as a coordinator at Bemidji State which is a program that did more with less. At South Dakota, I have seen his work up-close and he always impressed me. I am very excited to get Rob out here to lead our defense."
 
In 2018, he oversaw the play of All-American Darin Greenfield, who finished in the voting for national defensive player of the year and was a first-team all-Valley honoree. In 2019, inside linebacker Jack Cochrane led the Valley in tackles and earned all-conference honors. He also helped Jakari Starling to the Valley's All-Newcomer Team and Phil Steele's Freshman All-America Team.
 
South Dakota played just four games in the spring of 2021, but it was enough to land sophomore Brock Mogensen on the all-MVFC team. Mogensen led the Coyotes and finished second in the Valley in tackles per game, totaling 38 stops in four starts.
 
On special teams, Brady Schutt has turned in the nation's fourth-best punting average in each of the last two seasons. In 2020-21, the Coyotes led the nation in net punting with a 43.7-yard average and Schutt was once again on the all-Valley team. On the kicking side, Mason Lorber was the highest-scoring kicker in Valley play in 2019. He was rewarded with honorable mention all-MVFC honors.
 
"He made a huge impact at South Dakota," Eck said. "They were very good in special teams. Their linebackers last year were two of the best defensive players in the Valley. I think our players will be very excited to play for him and he is going to do a good job of putting together a tremendous defensive staff. We are thrilled to welcome Rob, Sarah and their girls to Moscow."
 
Aurich was on the coaching staff at Bemidji State from 2014-17 and served as Defensive Coordinator for the Beavers his final season there. BSU went 24-10 over his final three seasons and featured a top-25 defense with Aurich in the coordinator chair. His unit in 2017 ranked in the NCAA DII top-10 in opponent yards per carry (fourth), interceptions (seventh) and opponent yards per play (ninth) while also finishing 18th in sacks.
 
Aurich played for South Dakota Coach Bob Nielson at Minnesota Duluth and won national titles with the Bulldogs in 2008 and 2010. He graduated as the program's second-leading tackler all-time with 310 stops, was a first-team All-American in 2009, and is a three-time all-NSIC honoree.
 
Rob resides in Moscow with his wife, Sarah and Daughters Luella and Isabelle and a son, Henry.