Auburn hires Ted Roof as defensive coordinator

By Don Hawes
Sports director
Published: January 6, 2009

    AUBURN, Ala. (AP) - Auburn coach Gene Chizik has brought in a
new defensive coordinator, and it’s a familiar name in the South.
    Chizik said Tuesday he’s hired Ted Roof, a successful defensive
coach at Georgia Tech and other schools.
    The 45-year-old Roof spent last season as defensive coordinator
at Minnesota, which improved from 119th nationally in total defense
in 2007 to 79th under his direction.
    Roof was a linebacker for the Yellow Jackets in the 1980s. He
spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Alabama, then served
as an assistant at West Georgia and Duke.
    He joined the Georgia Tech staff in 1998 and became defensive
coordinator in 1999.
    In 2001, the Yellow Jackets ranked 23rd nationally in total
defense and 32nd in rushing defense.
    He joined the Duke staff in 2002 and became head coach in 2003,
going 6-45 before departing in 2007.