Rob Erickson enters his fifth season as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2019. He was hired in March 2015.
UW-Whitewater allowed only 10.1 points per game in 2018, good for eighth in NCAA Division III, and finished 11th in total defense, surrendering only 231.9 yards per contest. The team did not allow 10 or more points until its eighth game of the year, a 40-10 victory at UW-Stout. In addition, defensive back Famus Hasty, a member of Erickson's position group, was named a second team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association and D3football.com.
The Warhawks led the WIAC and ranked 20th in the nation in scoring defense in 2017, allowing only 14.7 points per contest. UW-Whitewater also collected a league-best 41 sacks, good for fourth in NCAA Division III.
In 2016, the Warhawks won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship and reached the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Playoffs behind a defense that ranked second in the nation in both turnovers (45) and interceptions (28) and finished 12th in red zone defense (54.3 percent) and 16th in rushing defense (83.1 ypg). UW-Whitewater allowed an average of 16.0 points per game, good for 19th in the country. Erickson garnered Wisconsin Football Coaches Association College Assistant Coach of the Year accolades.
In Erickson's first year running the defense, the Warhawks ranked 14th in the nation in scoring defense, surrendering only 14.1 points per game. UW-Whitewater also ranked among the top 20 in the country in interceptions (7th) and defensive touchdowns (19th). The team led the WIAC in rushing defense (112.9 yards per game) and ranked second in scoring defense and total defense (317.1 yards per game). The defensive backfield helped the Warhawks rank seventh in the nation with 22 interceptions.
In three seasons under Erickson, six UW-Whitewater defensive backs have been tabbed All-WIAC, including Ryan Winske, who was named a first team All-American by D3football.com in 2015.
Erickson began his tenure with the Warhawks after seven seasons as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at UW-Platteville. His experiences with the Pioneers included recruiting, fundraising, alumni and student networking, career development, attitude training and social media.
During his stint at UW-Platteville, Erickson helped turn around a Pioneer defense that had ranked near the bottom of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in scoring defense, turnover margin, total defense and sacks during the three years prior to his arrival. Over his seven years, the UW-Platteville defense held opponents to single digits in scoring 21 times, including five shutouts, and tallied four All-America honors, eight all-region selections and 42 all-conference picks.
The 2011 WIAC Assistant Coach of the Year, Erickson helped lead the Pioneers to a 32-10 record over the last four years. In 2013, UW-Platteville posted its first-ever win in the NCAA Division III Playoffs.
Prior to UW-Platteville, Erickson served as defensive coordinator at Aurora (Ill.) University from 2005-07. The Spartans’ defense led the conference in turnovers forced and total defense in 2006 and 2007.
Erickson also held assistant coaching positions at UW-Stevens Point (2003-04), UW-Platteville (2002) and Stevens Point High School (2000-01).
As a student-athlete at UW-Platteville, Erickson was a four-year starter and 1999 team captain at defensive back.
A native of Stevens Point, Erickson graduated from UW-Stevens Point with a bachelor’s in history education in 2003 and a master’s in general education in 2006.
Erickson and his wife, Kelly, have three children – Maya, Jared and Kami.
