AUBURN — New Auburn head coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/coach/hugh-freeze-134705/">Hugh Freeze</a> and new defensive coordinator Ron Roberts will not retain linebackers coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/christian-robinson-23136/">Christian Robinson</a>, sources confirmed to Auburn Live on Thursday morning.



Keith Niebuhr and Justin Hokanson confirmed Robinson’s departure.



Robinson, known by current and former players as “C-Rob”, took over as linebacker coach in January after Bryan Harsin’s first season. He succeeded <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/coach/jeff-schmedding-135084/">Jeff Schmedding</a>, who was promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2022 season.



When Auburn hired Freeze more than than two weeks, most of the coaching staff was let go, with the exception of <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/coach/cadillac-williams-131283/">Cadillac Williams</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/coach/zac-etheridge-131291/">Zac Etheridge</a> and Robinson. Williams, who coaches running backs and served as interim coach after Harsin was fired with four games remaining in the 2022 season, was promoted to associate head coach almost immediately upon Freeze’s arrival. Meanwhile, Etheridge and Robinson have continued to recruit.



<a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/auburn-tigers/news/ron-roberts-announced-as-auburns-new-defensive-coordinator/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Roberts was hired as defensive coordinator on Sunday night and the move was made official by the university on Wednesday.</a>



<h2 id="h-who-will-coach-linebackers-at-auburn-under-roberts-and-freeze">Who will coach linebackers at Auburn under Roberts and Freeze?</h2>



<a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/auburn-tigers/news/tracking-hugh-freezes-first-auburn-football-staff-with-hires-potential-candidates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Auburn Live reported on Wednesday that Liberty co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Josh Aldridge was “weighing an offer to join Auburn’s defensive staff as a linebackers coach.”</a>



Sources indicate that as of Thursday morning, unless there’s a change of heart, Aldridge will accept the position with Auburn following Liberty’s bowl game against Toledo on December 20. The move could come following signing day, which falls on December 21. Aldridge is currently serving as interim head coach following Freeze’s departure and until the arrival of Jamey Chadwell, who is coming to Liberty from Coastal Carolina.



<h2 id="h-robinson-s-football-career-as-a-player-and-coach">Robinson’s football career as a player and coach</h2>



From Auburn Live’s Cole Pinkston:



Robinson played in college for an Auburn rival. He was a linebacker for the University of Georgia from 2009-2012. He was then a graduate assistant coach at Georgia from 2013-2014, then at Ole Miss from 2015-2016, and at Mississippi State in 2017.



As a player at Georgia, Robinson played in 51 games. He had 159 tackles, 22.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks while starting most of his career. He was a part of back-to-back SEC Eastern Division title teams in 2011 and 2012.



Robinson spent four seasons as the linebacker coach for the University of Florida. He had plenty of success as a coach and recruiter for the Gators helping them to the 7th ranked defense nationally in scoring. 



He coached NFL Draft picks <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jonathan-greenard-64679/">Jonathan Greenard</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/vosean-joseph-139561/">Vosean Joseph</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/mohamoud-diabate-90128/">Mohamoud Diabate</a>, and <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/ventrell-miller-119395/">Ventrell Miller</a> while at Florida.

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