Roof hired as Auburn defensive coordinator

AUBURN — Ted Roof needed just one season to turn the worst defense in the nation into slightly below average.
Now he’ll have the chance to take over one of the most consistently strong units in the SEC as Auburn’s new defensive coordinator, the university announced Tuesday.

“I’m very excited to be a part of the Auburn football family and work for an individual in Coach (Gene) Chizik that has had a tremendous amount of success,” Roof said in a university release. “There have been a lot of great players and coaches come through Auburn, and I’m excited to become a part of the rich and storied tradition of Auburn University and its football program.”

Roof earned $300,000 in 2008 and was set to make $330,000 at Minnesota in 2009, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
His expertise with linebackers may alter the title of James Willis, who has yet to have his position on the defensive staff defined. Chizik still has three openings on his staff of assistants, two on defense. An offensive line coach is the only position remaining on the offensive side of the ball.

Roof grew up in the South and has spent the bulk of his coaching career below the Mason-Dixon line. Originally a linebacker at Georgia Tech, Roof has held a number of different positions at eight schools, including a four-year stint as head coach at Duke.
“Ted has a wealth of experience and success as a defensive coach, and philosophically, we think alike,” Chizik said. “He is a high-energy individual who is involved in every aspect of the defense.”

His best work may have been on display this year, as he inherited the worst statistical defense in the Football Bowl Subdivision at Minnesota. The Gophers still struggled in 2008, ranking in the bottom half of the Big 10 in passing defense, rushing defense and total points allowed, but made definite strides on their way to a 7-6 record.

Minnesota finished the season 79th in the nation in total defense, a 40-spot jump from 2007.

“Our defense improved a great deal under Coach Roof this past season,” Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster said in a release. “Good coaches are always going to be in demand, and I wish Ted the best of luck in the future.”

Roof’s time at Duke was not as successful. The Blue Devils were 6-45 under Roof from 2004-07, which ultimately led to him being fired.

Roof, 45, began his career as a graduate assistant at Alabama before taking over as linebackers coach at West Georgia in 1989. He held a similar position in his first go-around with Duke before moving to Division I-AA Massachusetts in 1994. He took over as the Minutemen’s defensive coordinator in 1995.

He took his first major defensive coordinator position at Georgia Tech in 1999. In 2000, Roof was nominated for the Broyles Award, which honors the nation’s top assistant coach.

He served as interim head coach at Duke with four games remaining in 2003 and led the Blue Devils to a 2-2 record before receiving an offer to become the full-time head coach.

Roof, a Lawrenceburg, Ga. native, is married to wife Pam, and has twin boys, Terrence Davis and Michael Edwin.