Robbie Rouse Named Running Backs Coach
1/10/2026 4:26:00 PM | Football
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly football head coach Tim Skipper has announced that Robbie Rouse will join his staff as running backs coach.
This will be Rouse's second stint coaching at Cal Poly as he previously served as the Mustangs' running backs coach in 2022.
Rouse last spent two years coaching running backs at South Dakota State in 2023 and 2024, helping the Jackrabbits win an FCS National Championship in 2023. That year, he mentored consensus All-American Isaiah Davis, who led FCS in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns. Additionally, Amar Johnson rushed for 801 yards and was named to the all-MVFC Second Team as an all-purpose back.
He began his coaching career in 2017 as an offensive assistant at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota, before helping lead Augustana (S.D.) to a berth in the 2018 NCAA Division II playoffs as the Vikings' running backs coach.
From 2020-21, Rouse coached at the University of North Dakota, where he mentored three players who received recognition from the Missouri Valley Football Conference over two seasons, including All-American Otis Weah. The Fighting Hawks earned a share of the MVFC title during the 2020-21 spring season and made an appearance in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
As a collegiate player, Rouse set the Fresno State career rushing mark with 4,647 yards and 37 touchdowns from 2009-12. He became the first player in program history to record three 1,000-yard seasons and helped the Bulldogs reach a bowl game three times.
Rouse began his professional playing career as a member of the Cleveland Browns in 2013 before moving on to the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League for parts of two seasons. He closed out his playing career as a member of indoor football teams, including the Nebraska Danger, Iowa Barnstormers and Sioux Falls Storm.
Rouse graduated in 2013 with a bachelor of arts degree in recreation administration from Fresno State before receiving his master's degree in sports administration and leadership from Augustana.
This will be Rouse's second stint coaching at Cal Poly as he previously served as the Mustangs' running backs coach in 2022.
Rouse last spent two years coaching running backs at South Dakota State in 2023 and 2024, helping the Jackrabbits win an FCS National Championship in 2023. That year, he mentored consensus All-American Isaiah Davis, who led FCS in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns. Additionally, Amar Johnson rushed for 801 yards and was named to the all-MVFC Second Team as an all-purpose back.
He began his coaching career in 2017 as an offensive assistant at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota, before helping lead Augustana (S.D.) to a berth in the 2018 NCAA Division II playoffs as the Vikings' running backs coach.
From 2020-21, Rouse coached at the University of North Dakota, where he mentored three players who received recognition from the Missouri Valley Football Conference over two seasons, including All-American Otis Weah. The Fighting Hawks earned a share of the MVFC title during the 2020-21 spring season and made an appearance in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
As a collegiate player, Rouse set the Fresno State career rushing mark with 4,647 yards and 37 touchdowns from 2009-12. He became the first player in program history to record three 1,000-yard seasons and helped the Bulldogs reach a bowl game three times.
Rouse began his professional playing career as a member of the Cleveland Browns in 2013 before moving on to the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League for parts of two seasons. He closed out his playing career as a member of indoor football teams, including the Nebraska Danger, Iowa Barnstormers and Sioux Falls Storm.
Rouse graduated in 2013 with a bachelor of arts degree in recreation administration from Fresno State before receiving his master's degree in sports administration and leadership from Augustana.
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