Western Colorado University Athletics

Todd Auer begins his eighth season as defensive coordinator for the Mountaineers in 2023. Auer brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to the Western football program.

In his first season at Western, Auer turned the Mountaineer defense into one of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's best. Western led the conference in scoring defense, holding opponents to 16.7 points per game. That figure was also good for ninth best in Division II. The defense was also Division II's fourth best team in red zone defense.

Auer's defense in 2016 recorded the first shutout in 13 years for the Mountaineers, defeating Black Hills State University 27-0. Western turned around and earned another shutout victory against New Mexico Highlands, 58-0, the following game. In 2019, the team recorded its third shutout under Auer - beating Fort Lewis 31-0. 
 
Auer made his way to Western after spending two seasons as the inside linebackers coach at Division I Southern Illinois University. With the Salukis, Auer coached the team's leading tackler to an all-conference recognition and had two linebackers ranked in the conference's top-five for tackles per game.
 
A familiar face to the RMAC, Auer spent two years at Colorado Mesa University as the defensive coordinator prior to SIU, and 23 years at Chadron State College before that.

During his time at Chadron State, Auer spent 17 of those seasons as defensive coordinator. Auer's Eagles had the top defense in the RMAC in 13 of his seasons as defensive coordinator. Prior to being named defensive coordinator, Auer served as Chadron State's offensive line coach, as well as strength and conditioning coach/travel coordinator from 1990-1993.

During his tenure as defensive coordinator at Chadron State, the Eagles posted a 153-48 overall record and won eight RMAC titles. CSC was ranked in the final Division II national top 10 poll five times. He was a finalist for the 2008 Division II Coordinator of the Year, and in 2010 the Eagles ranked No. 4 in the country in total defense.

Auer began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Western Illinois in 1989. He was also a four-year letterwinner at Western Illinois where he holds the school record with 28 career sacks.

A native of Wisconsin, Auer played linebacker for the Green Bay Packers for three games in 1987. He and his wife, Kim, have three daughters and one son - Alyssa, Brayden, Aspen and Cole.