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Auburn staff update: Rushing, Bellantoni hires official

Justin Hokansonby: Justin Hokanson01/08/25_JHokanson
Photo by Auburn Athletics
Photo by Auburn Athletics

AUBURN — Auburn football officially announced the hirings of TJ Rushing and Roc Bellantoni on Wednesday. Rushing will coach safeties, while Bellantoni will coach the outside linebackers/edge position.

“We’re excited to move T.J. back into an on-field role as well as welcome Roc back to the Plains,” Hugh Freeze said. “T.J. has a Super Bowl champion pedigree and is an outstanding coach who relates very well with our players. Roc has a wealth of knowledge and experienced a lot of success in three decades of coaching at various levels during his career.”

Auburn Live previously reported the expectation of Bellantoni’s hiring. As well as Rushing’s move to an on-field role after being an off-the-field asset last season.

The Rushing promotion comes as a result of Charles Kelly leaving to become the Jacksonville State head coach.

The Bellantoni hire comes on the heels of Josh Aldridge leaving to become the East Carolina defensive coordinator.

In addition to all that, special teams coach Tanner Burns is headed to Texas State to perform the same duties, plus accept the associate head coach role, along with performing in a defensive analyst role.

Auburn’s on-the-field coaching staff currently looks like this:

OC/RB: Derrick Nix
DC: DJ Durkin
OL: Jake Thornton
QB: Kent Austin
WR: Marcus Davis
TE: Ben Aigamaua
DL: Vontrell King-Williams
OLB/Edge: Bellantoni
CB: Wesley McGriff
S: Rushing

Sources told Auburn Live on Tuesday, following the Bellantoni hiring, to “expect” another special teams hire to replace Burns. Bellantoni’s official duties listed in the Auburn release only specify coaching outside linebackers.

A Super Bowl champion as a player, Rushing has over 12 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level including stops at Memphis, Stanford, Arizona State, Northern Arizona and Texas A&M.

“I’m very appreciative to Coach Freeze and Coach Durkin for this opportunity,” Rushing said. “I witnessed firsthand this past season how special Auburn is and what we are building here. I’m very familiar with Coach Durkin’s defense, previously working with him at another school, and know our defensive personnel here very well. I look forward to helping us build a championship-level defense and team.”

Bellantoni has 30 years of coaching experience, including 17 years as a defensive coordinator and another four years as a special teams coordinator. 

“I am so thankful to Coach Freeze for allowing me the opportunity to return to the Plains,” Bellantoni said. “I thoroughly enjoyed my previous time at Auburn. I am excited and can’t wait to get back to work. Auburn is a special place with special people. I look forward to doing my part to help Coach Freeze succeed. I believe in Auburn and love it!”

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