On Tuesday, Florida announced the hire of Ron Roberts as the Gators’ inside linebackers coach, co-defensive coordinator, and executive head coach, completing a move first reported on January 8.
The terms of Roberts’ contract with UF were not immediately public.
Roberts joins UF after one season as Auburn’s defensive coordinator and 33 years of coaching experience. He will replace Jay Bateman as the team’s inside linebacker coach, who departed Florida to become Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator in December.
“We are excited to add one of the best football minds in college football to our staff in Ron Roberts,” UF head coach Billy Napier said in a statement released by the university.
“Ron is an excellent teacher and leader who has consistently produced and nurtured strong defensive players and groups. His familiarity with our methodology, as well as his experienced experience as a coordinator and head coach, will benefit the staff greatly. I’m honored to welcome him and his wife, Didi, to Gator Nation.”
Florida is set to hire former Auburn defensive coordinator Ron Roberts to oversee the Gators’ inside linebacker position, All Gators can confirm.
The move will reunite Roberts with Billy Napier, Florida’s current head coach, after the duo spent two seasons together at Louisiana from 2018-19, with Roberts handling defensive coordinator duties under Napier at the time.
Roberts will replace Jay Bateman, who bolted from Florida’s inside linebacker coaching position to coordinate the defense at Texas A&M in Dec. 2023.
The 56-year-old Roberts brings 33 years of coaching experience to Gainesville, notably including stints with Baylor and Auburn of late.
With the Tigers, Roberts helped improve the SEC’s No. 12-ranked scoring defense and No. 9-ranked total defense from 2022 by allowing 6.9 points and 38.1 yards fewer per game in 2023, boosting Auburn to No. 7 in the former category compared to the season prior.
His three years in Waco, Texas, proved to be some of the most successful of his coaching career, as he helped lead the Bears to a Big 12 Championship title in 2021.
During the campaign, the defense catalyzed Baylor’s success, leading the conference in interceptions (19), turnovers gained (27), turnover margin (0.93) and defensive touchdowns (3). Additionally, the Bears 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).
Baylor also held every opponent below 30 points, just one of three teams in the FBS to do so.
Roberts will also take on the role of co-defensive coordinator, a position previously occupied by former Gators defensive line coach Sean Spencer, who was dismissed in Nov. 2023. He’ll also command an executive head coach — defense title in Gainesville.
Roberts is the third hiring to Florida’s on-field defensive coaching staff this offseason, after as many departures. Secondary coach Corey Raymond was let go alongside Spencer in November; the assistants were replaced by Will Harris and Gerald Chatman, respectively.
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