For the third time in three years, SDSU head football coach Sean Lewis will hire a new defensive coordinator. Rob Aurich, who led the defense’s impressive turnaround in 2025 was hired by Nebraska to become their new defensive coordinator.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel first reported the news on Sunday afternoon. Lewis confirmed it at his Monday press conference although Nebraska has yet to publicly announce the hire. 

“(We’re) very thankful for the work that Rob (Aurich) has done for the past two years and the commitment of him and his family to our program,” said Lewis. “We’re in a better place because of the work that he did. There’s a good opportunity that he felt was best for him and his family. (I) wish him the best with that as we move forward.”

Aurich came to SDSU in Lewis’ first year as the EDGEs coach after two years as DC at FCS Idaho. When Eric Schmidt left after last season to become the new head coach at North Dakota, Lewis promoted Aurich as his replacement. 

The statistical improvement in all facets of the defense from 2024 to 2025 highlight Aurich’s prowess and likely made him a hot coaching candidate across the P4. 

The Aztecs made a late push to keep Aurich on the Mesa, making a “huge offer” according to a source, but the allure of the Big 10 ultimately won out. 

Defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach Demetrius Sumler named interim DC

Lewis also announced on Monday that Demetrius Sumler will serve as the interim defensive coordinator through the upcoming bowl game for the Aztecs. 

Sumler is finishing his tenth year on the Aztecs’ staff, and eighth as the cornerbacks coach, across tenures under Rocky Long, Brady Hoke and Lewis. The title of defensive pass game coordinator was added to his role entering the 2025 season. 

The Cathedral Catholic alum played four years at Colorado, rushing for 714 yards and nine touchdowns. 

Lewis praised Sumler’s commitment to the program and the way he communicates with the student athletes. 

“(Sumler’s) a great connector of young men, and that’s important in this time right now, to have a leader who does that at an elite level,” Lewis added. “He’s a great football mind that has a depth of knowledge of scheme from what he learned with Coach Rocky Long and previous coordinators that he’s worked under. He has developed his own skill set and his own ideas, and he’s done a great job the past two years as well. I’m excited to see him lead our guys.”

During his tenure, Sumler had recruited and developed numerous talented cornerbacks to All-Conference recognition. Under his tutelage, Darren Hall and Luq Barcoo went on to play in the NFL. This year, Chris Johnson won Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year and is regarded as a Day 2 (Rounds 2 and 3) prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Permanent DC hire

Lewis does not have a timetable on when the permanent hire for DC will be announced, although he indicated Sumler’s role for the bowl game will serve as an excellent audition for the permanent spot. 

When Lewis was hired in November 2023, he spoke about taking the requisite time to hire the right person as defensive coordinator and not rush to make a bad hire just for the sake of urgency. 

“I’ve done [this] enough to where I’ve learned,” noted Lewis. “I have the scars from doing it too quickly, and it’s more important to get it right than to do it right now. [I] understand the urgency that we need to have, but it’s about getting the right individual to fit our culture. That’s what college football is. It’s a talent acquisition business. It’s making sure that you get the right people in the building who are aligned and unified.” 

Last year, Schmidt was announced as North Dakota’s head coach on December 8. Aurich was announced as his replacement on December 13, only five days later. 

Two factors likely played into the quick decision. The Aztecs did not make a bowl game last year and did not need to name an interim. The bigger factor, however, was the transfer portal opened on December 9 and several key defenders were being swayed to depart San Diego for greener pastures. Promoting Aurich became the key selling point, in addition to improved NIL offers, to retain the likes of Johnson, Trey White, and Eric Butler.   

This year, the transfer portal does not open until January 2 and the Aztecs bowl game is not until December 27. 

“The connection and brotherhood in that locker room are what drives us,” said Lewis when discussing the impact of the coaching change on the roster. “We talked to the guys about moments of adversity, moments of change. Those are things that are going to be constant in their lives, and those things are [what] we have felt through this year. Our guys have responded at a really high level, and I know that we’ll do that again.”

Whether the Aztecs have the same success in retention this time around may depend on whether Lewis opts for another internal promotion or dives externally for a newcomer. Speculation around First-Team All-Conference players, White and LB Owen Chambliss, departing SDSU and possibly following Aurich to Nebraska has already begun on social media.

Time will tell. 

New Mexico Bowl

On Sunday morning, the Aztecs found out they will be heading back to Albuquerque to finish out their 2025 season. Almost a month after their frustrating double overtime loss to the Lobos on Black Friday that essentially knocked them out of the conference championship game, the Aztecs will play in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl against 25th-ranked North Texas (11-2). 

The December 27 game at University Stadium will kickoff at 245pm PT on ESPN. 

“[I’m] excited about the opportunity that we have to head to New Mexico and play a really good North Texas team, number one total offense, number one passer in the country,” remarked Lewis. “[It’s] a great matchup of strengths with our defense [and] their offense. [I’m also] excited about the opportunity that Albuquerque presents for us to go get our 10th win. The boys are great and excited about the opportunity.”

The Mean Green lost to Tulane, 34-21, in the American Conference championship game on Saturday night. With a win, they would have replaced Tulane in the College Football Playoffs.

With the current landscape of college football, players opting out of bowl games has become widely regular. Lewis noted on Monday that none of his players have discussed opting out the game at this time. 

The Aztecs will play in their first bowl game in three years. After recording a total of seven wins over the past two seasons, the Aztecs will aim to win their tenth game of 2025. 

The only other time the Aztecs played in the New Mexico Bowl, they defeated Central Michigan, 48-11, in 2019.  

Andre Haghverdian

Avid sports fan and historian of basketball, baseball, football and soccer. UC San Diego and San Diego State alumni living in America’s Finest City. Diverse team following across multiple sports leagues, but Aztecs come first in college athletics.