GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Colorado Mesa defensive coordinator Todd Auer has resigned to accept an assistant coaching position at Southern Illinois. Auer will coach the linebackers for the Salukis.

Auer was the defensive coordinator for the Mavericks the past two seasons. CMU finished third in Div. II with 23 interceptions. Auer also coached Jake Edmiston who set NCAA Div. II single season records for tackles (177), solo tackles (102) and tackles per game (16.1). Prior to coming to CMU, Auer spent 23 seasons at Chadron State, including 17 as defensive coordinator.

"I appreciate Russ Martin for giving me the chance to come to Mesa and be part of the football program," said Todd Auer. "I would like to thank the staff for being first class. I am going to miss CMU, the town and the area, but I am going to miss the players and coaches the most. This is a great career move. I have been at Div. II for a long time and this is an opportunity for me to move up."

"We were very blessed and fortunate to have Todd in our program," said head coach Russ Martin. "He is one of the best defensive coordinators in the country. This is a great opportunity for Todd to move into Div. I and to rejoin Bill O'Boyle."

Auer and O'Boyle, the offensive coordinator at SIU, worked together at Chadron State and Colorado Mesa.

An immediate search is underway for Auer's replacement.