Tracy Rocker latest coach to leave South Carolina for Auburn
South Carolina football is back on the market for an assistant coach, as defensive line coach Tracy Rocker has left the Gamecocks staff for the same role at Auburn.
The news, confirmed Thursday by Auburn, leaves head coach Shane Beamer with two assistant spots now to fill at offensive and defensive line.
Rocker was one of four coaches initially retained from Will Muschamp’s staff by Beamer when he took over as head coach of the program in December. Rocker is an Auburn alum and was an All-American lineman and won the Outland and Lombardi trophies while playing for the Tigers.
“Tracy Rocker is one of Auburn’s all-time great players and has a wealth of experience coaching and in the Southeastern Conference,” new Auburn coach Brian Harsin said in a statement. “He understands what a championship team looks like and knows what it takes to be successful at the highest level. We’re excited to welcome back Tracy to the Auburn family.”
He’ll be reunited with offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, who was also re-hired at USC before leaving to take the OC job at Auburn. Offensive line coach Will Friend was also hired at South Carolina and stayed just a few weeks before heading to Auburn.
The USC board of trustees approved new contracts for Bobo, Friend and Rocker last week. Rocker, however, did not sign his contract amendment, USC confirmed. That would put his contract buyout — what he owes USC for leaving — at $50,000.
Rocker came to USC in February 2020, hired by Muschamp to help develop a talented defensive line unit. The Gamecocks were his sixth different stop in the SEC, preceded by Tennessee (2018-19), Georgia (2014-16), Auburn (2009-10), Ole Miss (2008), and Arkansas (2003-07).
Under Rocker, South Carolina’s defensive line featured several veterans in Keir Thomas, Aaron Sterling and Jabari Ellis, in addition to blue-chip backups in Zacch Pickens, Tonka Hemingway and Alex Huntley.
The unit, however, struggled at times. Opponents averaged 195.4 rushing yards per game and 4.9 yards per attempt, both bottom three marks in the SEC and outside the top 90 nationally. The Gamecocks averaged 1.4 sacks per game, tied for 109th nationally and second-to-last in the SEC.
“I’m excited about coming back to Auburn to work with Coach Harsin and the staff he has put together,” Rocker said in a statement. “In my visits with Coach Harsin, he has shared a clear vision for the program and I’m looking forward to helping put that vision in place. I have great memories as a player and coach at Auburn and can’t wait to create more in the future.”
Auburn is scheduled to play South Carolina in 2021 at Williams-Brice Stadium.
This story was originally published January 13, 2021 at 10:56 AM.
