University of South Dakota Athletics

Rob Aurich was added to Bob Nielson's staff in February of 2018. He serves as special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach for the Coyotes. He worked primarily with the outside linebackers during his first season in 2018.

In his two full seasons, Aurich has overseen some of the Coyotes’ best. 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.
 
The 2020-21 season consisted of just four games in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 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.
 
And that’s just linebackers.
 
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. In all, seven Coyotes under Aurich have produced nine All-MVFC accolades.

Aurich competed for Nielson at Minnesota Duluth and won national titles with the Bulldogs in 2008 and 2010. He graduated as the program’s second-leading tackler with 310 stops, was a first-team All-American in 2009, and is a three-time all-NSIC honoree.
 
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 top 10 in opponent yards per carry (fourth), interceptions (seventh) and opponent yards per play (ninth) while also finishing 18^th in sacks.
 
Prior to Bemidji, Aurich worked as an outside account executive at Livingston International in Chicago, and prior to that as a paralegal intern in Duluth. He received his bachelor’s degree in criminology from UMD in 2010 and completed his master’s degree in business administration from BSU in 2015.

Aurich and his wife, Sarah, have two daughters, Luella and Isabelle.