Ron Roberts will not return as defensive coordinator at Auburn
AUBURN — Ron Roberts is out as Auburn’s defensive coordinator.
Auburn Live can officially confirm the move via a knowledgeable source.
Freeze hired Roberts last winter as part of his first coaching staff at Auburn. Roberts, who has 11 years of experience as a collegiate head coach at Delta State and Southeastern Louisiana, was the defensive coordinator at Baylor the last three seasons before arriving at Auburn.
Under Roberts, the Auburn defense finished 7th in the SEC in scoring defense (22.6 points per game), 8th in the SEC in total defense (357 yards per game), 11th in the SEC in rushing defense (155 ypg), and 3rd in the SEC in pass defense (202 ypg).
Roberts will head to Florida and be the co-DC and linebackers’ to coach under Billy Napier. He was the DC under Napier at Louisiana previously. That move is also confirmed by a source.
Roberts’ no non-sense style caused some issues internally this season. Former Auburn defensive backs coach Wesley McGriff departed his on-the-field role on the middle of the season after multiple disagreements with Roberts. McGriff moved off the field and recently accepted a job on Texas A&M’s new-look coaching staff.
Auburn was 3rd in the SEC with 12 interceptions, 7th with 31 sacks, 7th in tackles for loss with 77, 2nd in opponents’ third-down conversions (31.71 percent), 1st in overall redzone scoring allowed (79.55 percent).
During his three years at Baylor, Roberts’ defense helped the team to one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2021, capturing the program’s third Big 12 Title and its first BCS/New Year’s Six bowl win in the modern era.
The 2021 Bears defense buoyed Baylor’s success, leading the conference in interceptions (19), turnovers gained (27), turnover margin (0.93) and defensive touchdowns (3). Additionally, Baylor finished second in the Big 12 run defense (118.4 ypg), scoring defense (18.3 PPG), pass efficiency defense (121.54) and sacks per game (3.14).
