Meet the Coaches: Auburn outside linebackers coach Roc Bellantoni

AUBURN, Ala. – Returning to Auburn was an easy decision for outside linebackers coach Roc Bellantoni.

“The reason I wanted to come back to Auburn was the people,” he said. “The people here made me feel so special the first time I was here. The relationships I had with the players was special.

“You talk about family and if you love Auburn, Auburn’s going to love you back. It’s all true. This is a very special place and it’s something I held close to my heart and I couldn’t be more excited to be back and experience it again.”

A defensive analyst at Auburn in 2021, Bellantoni coached the Tigers’ edge rushers and served as special teams coordinator in 2022 before becoming the defensive coordinator at Florida Atlantic the past two seasons.

“When I left here it was a dream to maybe come back someday. I didn’t realize it would be this quick,” Bellantoni said. “It was a great two years away. I grew as a coach. When I had the opportunity to come back here, I was thrilled to come back.”

Bellantoni’s first stint on the Plains positioned him for his second, according to Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze.

“He said that I had done a great job my first time here,” Bellantoni recalled. “He heard that from a lot of people and thought that I might be able to come in and contribute.

“I told him I really wanted to come in and help him get over the hump. Help this program get over the hump, it’s been growing and growing for two years. I’ve seen that from afar and I wanted to come in and help him get there.”

A defensive coordinator for 17 seasons, Bellantoni offers his experience in support of Auburn coordinator DJ Durkin.

“We all have ownership in it,” Durkin said. “When you have guys who have called it before, have been through some battles and have battle scars, it certainly helps.”

“I love Coach Durkin. He’s the greatest,” Bellantoni said. “He’s intense and has a purpose for everything we do defensively. Everybody speaks the same language.”

From the outside linebackers he coaches, Bellantoni seeks dependability and disruption.

“Doing our job, being where we’re supposed to be, being reliable,” he said. “I want us to be violent in the run game and very disruptive in the pass game.

“We can affect the quarterback and affect the pass game through rushing the passer but you’ve got to earn the opportunity to rush the passer by stopping the run, so we’ve got to start there.”

In 2022, Bellantoni coached All-SEC edge rusher Derrick Hall to a monster season that included seven sacks, an interception, seven quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and one recovery. 

“The one thing I know about football that I’ve learned over the years is the quarterback cannot throw the ball when he’s laying on his back,” Bellantoni said. “It’s not only sacks, it’s pressures, affecting his throws, getting him off his spot, disrupting the rhythm of the pass game. An elite pass rusher can change the game.”

Thirty years after his first college football coaching debut, Roc Bellantoni returns to the Plains, determined to lead Auburn’s outside backers to greatness.

“Taking my position group and making them the best group in the SEC, the best group in the country that we can be,” he said. “I take a lot of pride in that. I take a lot of pride in how they play, how they act and how they carry themselves. I think we can be difference makers in this defense.”

Roc and his wife, Jenny, a second-grade teacher, are the parents of four college baseball players.

“Couldn’t be more thrilled,” he said. “The only thing I like as much as winning a football game is watching them play and excel.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer