University of North Dakota head football coach Bubba Schweigert announced on March 11, 2020 that former Fresno State running back Robbie Rouse has been hired as the running backs coach. This will be his second year on staff in 2021.
“I am very excited about the hiring of Robbie [Rouse],” said Schweigert. “His success from his playing career at Fresno State along with his passion for coaching the game of football will help continue to move Fighting Hawk football in the right direction.”
In his first year as running backs coach, Rouse helped mentor a three-headed backfield to a dominate rushing attack that finished in the top half of the conference and near the top of the nation in rushing offense and touchdowns.
Otis Weah was dynamic in the backfield, leading the team and conference in rushing yards (730), yards per carry (7.16), rushing touchdowns (9), yards per game (104.3) and total touchdowns (9) while also ranking inside the top-10 in the FCS with those numbers. He earned multiple All-America nods and was selected to the All-MVFC squad. Fellow back Luke Skokna also earned all-conference nods with his four rushing touchdowns and averaging over five yards per carry.
Rouse was a four-year member of the football team at Fresno State, where he became the program's all-time leading rusher. In four years with the Bulldogs, Rouse rushed for a total of 4,647 yards and 37 rushing touchdowns while also finishing with 794 receiving yards, five receiving touchdowns, and one passing touchdown. He is the first player in program history to record three 1,000-yard seasons and helped the Bulldogs reach a bowl game in all four seasons.
“I’m very appreciative of Coach Schweigert for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the UND coaching and for my family to join the Grand Forks community,” said Rouse. “I am excited to get things going and get with the running backs.”
After a brief stint in the National and Canadian Football Leagues with the Cleveland Brown and Edmonton Eskimos, Rouse began his coaching career in 2017 at the College of St. Scholastica where he coached the running backs, tight ends, wide receivers, and returners.
Last season, the San Diego, Calif., native coached the running backs for Augustana, helping the Vikings to a 9-3 overall record and a NCAA Division II postseason berth. As a team, Auggie amassed over 1,800 yards on the ground and Jarod Epperson finishing seventh in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) with 732 yards and six touchdowns.
Rouse graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation Administration from Fresno State before receiving his master’s degree in sports administration and leadership from Augustana.
Robbie has a daughter, Renlee.
