The Florida Gators are expected to hire Auburn defensive coordinator Ron Roberts as their co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, according to Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports.
Roberts served as defensive coordinator for Louisiana under Billy Napier from 2018-19, which marked his first coaching job at the Division 1 FBS level.
The 32-year coaching veteran was hired at Auburn prior to the 2023 season, leading the Tigers to the 45th ranked defense in the FBS. Auburn also ranked 41st in scoring defense, 16th in third down conversion defense, and 31st in redzone defense under Roberts.
Roberts’ most notable coaching stint came in his three seasons as defensive coordinator at Baylor University, where Roberts’ defense led the Bears to their third Big 12 Title and its first BCS/New Year’s Six bowl win in the modern era in 2021. Baylor’s defense led the conference in interceptions (19), turnovers gained (27), and defensive touchdowns (3) during their historic 2021 season. The Bears ranked 32nd in total defense and 10th in scoring defense while being one of just three units in the country to limit every opponent to 30 points or fewer.
Roberts started his coaching career in the high school ranks back in 1990, where he served as defensive coordinator for Houston High School. Roberts took his first collegiate job at Greensboro in 1997.
Roberts has familiarity with current defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong as they served on the same staff at Louisiana in 2018, where Armstrong was a graduate assistant working with the defense. It should be a fairly seamless transition for the 56-year-old veteran as Roberts’ runs the same style of defense Patrick Toney and Austin Armstrong have implemented at Florida.