SAN ANTONIO — UTSA Head Coach Frank Wilson announced Wednesday that associate head coach/linebackers coach Jason Rollins has been promoted to defensive coordinator effectively immediately.
"We are very excited to promote Coach Rollins to defensive coordinator," Wilson said. "No one is more deserving of this, as his contributions can attest to the steady play at the linebacker position and in the overall performance of our defense. We believe we will continue to build on our defensive foundation that has been set forth."
Rollins, who coaches the Roadrunners' linebackers, was one of Wilson's first hires in January 2016. In his two seasons in the Alamo City, Rollins has helped lead UTSA to 12 wins and back-to-back years of being bowl eligible, including the program's first-ever bowl appearance in the 2016 Gildan New Mexico Bowl.
UTSA boasted one of the nation's top defenses in 2017, as the Roadrunners lead Conference USA in seven different statistical categories and they rank in the top 10 among all Football Bowl Subdivision teams in five. UTSA held eight of its 11 opponents to 300-or-less yards of total offense, including a school-record 149 allowed in the 51-17 win against Southern, and five foes rushed for 100-or-less yards, highlighted by a program-record 37 allowed in the 44-14 victory at Texas State.
Rollins has tutored a pair of all-conference linebackers during his time at UTSA. Josiah Tauaefa was named 2016 C-USA Freshman of the Year and first-team all-conference, while La'Kel Bass collected honorable mention all-league accolades in 2017. Tauaefa also became the first Roadrunner to earn Freshman All-America honors when he was named to the Football Writers Association of America's squad following a 2016 campaign that saw him set the program's single-season tackles record with 115.
Prior to his UTSA tenure, Rollins spent nine seasons as Tulane's secondary coach, including serving as co-defensive coordinator in 2015 and special teams coordinator in 2014. He played a key role in the development of three All-Americans and four NFL players in draft picks Lorenzo Doss and Taurean Nixon, as well as free agents Derrick Strozier and Jordan Sullen.
In 2013, Rollins' secondary was a big reason why the Green Wave made their first bowl appearance since the 2002 season. Tulane ranked second nationally in turnovers forced with 35, including 19 interceptions with 15 by the defensive backfield. Doss, an All-America cornerback, picked off seven passes, returning a pair for touchdowns, and forced two fumbles. Additionally, Tulane allowed just 352.1 yards per game, which ranked 22nd in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
In 2014, Rollins helped lead the secondary to a combined 15 interceptions, seven fumble recoveries and a pair of forced fumbles, as the unit contributed to 22 of the team's 28 takeaways, which ranked 21st nationally. Parry Nickerson led the Green Wave and all FBS freshmen with six picks and garnered Freshman All-America accolades.
Rollins' impact on Tulane's secondary was immediate from the time he joined the staff prior to the 2008 campaign. In his first season in New Orleans, the group combined for 23 pass breakups, five interceptions, five forced fumbles and five recoveries.
During the next four years, his defensive backs combined for 31 interceptions and 120 pass breakups while helping the Green Wave defense consistently rank near the top of Conference USA in most major statistical categories.
Prior to his time at Tulane, Rollins was co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach at his alma mater, McNeese State, for two seasons (2005-06). He helped the Cowboys to a 23-10 record, two Southland Conference championships and a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoff appearance in in his final season.
Rollins got his coaching start as an assistant coach for the defensive backs at McNeese State in 1997-98. He was an assistant coach in the Texas prep ranks at Galveston Ball (1999-2000) and La Marque (2001).
He spent three seasons (2002-04) as the defensive backs coach at Northwestern State, where he helped the Demons to the 2004 Southland title on the strength of the top defense in the FCS.
Rollins was an all-state and all-district performer at Newton (Texas) High School and he went on to play safety at McNeese State in 1994-96.
Rollins earned his bachelor's degree in health and human performance from McNeese State in 1996.
He and his wife, Danna, have one son, Tieler.
We are proud to announce @CoachRollins6 has been promoted to defensive coordinator. #BirdsUp?? pic.twitter.com/xBa6fGUK8V
— UTSA Football ?? (@UTSAFTBL) December 27, 2017