San Diego State defensive coordinator Rob Aurich hired by Nebraska

Rob Aurich has been hired away by Nebraska, leaving San Diego State to find a new defensive coordinator for the fourth time in four years.

SDSU coach Sean Lewis hired Aurich as the Aztecs’ defensive line coach two years ago, and promoted Aurich to defensive coordinator last December after Eric Schmidt was hired as head coach at North Dakota.

“There’s a lot of mixed feelings in our household right now because of how much we love this place,” Aurich, who also served this season as SDSU’s linebackers coach, said Sunday. “Our ties to the community and our ties to Sean and this team (were strong). We’re thrilled about the opportunity to go do it in the Big Ten, but we’re a little bit sad that our time with the Aztecs is coming to an end. It’s been a difficult day in a deep way.”

Aurich enjoyed significant success this season, guiding an SDSU defense that ranks fifth in the nation in scoring defense (12.6 ppg), seventh in total defense (266.7 ypg) and 21st in rushing defense (109.7 ypg) and was the biggest reason for the Aztecs’ turnaround from 3-9 last season to 9-3 this season.

“I’m really, really thankful to have been part of this place and help get it back to where it should be,” Aurich said. “I think it’s just the start here. I think this place has the ability to do amazing things, and it was a really, really difficult decision for me and my family to come to.”

Aurich, 38, is from Michigan, went to school in Minnesota and coached at South Dakota, so he has strong ties to the Midwest. He also is getting the opportunity to coach in one of the strongest conferences in the country.

“I’ve spent a decent amount of time in Nebraska,” Aurich said. “They have a tremendous fan base, they have a tremendous history. That’s one of the things that drew me to it, the opportunity to compete at the absolute highest levels of college football. I’m thrilled for the opportunity to represent myself at the university.”

Last year, Nebraska opened the Osborne Legacy Complex, a 315,000-square-foot facility that cost $165 million.

“It’s a cathedral of resources over there,” Aurich said. “One thing that really impressed me was the commitment of, obviously, their administration, of that organization, of that fan base, they have really high expectations of what football at Nebraska should look like. I will do my absolute best to represent and meet those expectations.”

SDSU has not yet announced who will serve as defensive coordinator for the New Mexico Bowl. The Aztecs play North Texas, the nation’s highest-scoring team, in the game.

After a week off, SDSU returns to the practice field this week to begin preparations for the Dec. 27 bowl game.