University of Delaware Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator
- Email:
Manny Rojas returned to UD in the spring of 2020 as Delaware’s defensive coordinator. In his 17 seasons as a college coach and player, Rojas has been a part of seven conference championships and six NCAA playoff appearances.
During Rojas' time in Delaware, he has produced 32 all-conference defensive players and 22 All-Americans. Troy Reeder (Los Angeles Rams, 2019) and Kedrick Whitehead (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2023) each signed as undrafted free agents, while Jackson Taylor (Kansas City Chiefs, 2024) earned an invitation to attend rookie mini camp.
Rojas spent the 2019 season as the defensive coordinator at Lafayette College where he changed the Leopards' defensive scheme but still had five All-Patriot League selections, including the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.
Rojas spent the 2017-18 seasons in Newark as UD’s linebackers coach and special teams co-coordinator. He coached future Super Bowl champion Troy Reeder to All-America honors at linebacker and the Blue Hens ranked third in the CAA in scoring defense in both seasons.
Prior to his first stint at Delaware, Rojas was the linebackers coach at Richmond for five seasons (2012-16). Richmond linebackers earned numerous All-CAA honors throughout those five seasons. In 2012, Rojas helped a pair of Spider linebackers earn All-CAA recognition - the first time that had happened since the 2009 season – as Richmond led the country in turnover margin at +22.
Rojas began his coaching career at his alma mater Liberty where he was a defensive and special teams assistant coach during the 2010-11 seasons.
Rojas was a dominating force for the Flames on the field from 2003-06, finishing his career with 348 tackles. As a senior, he led the squad with 102 tackles, making him one of only three Flames' defenders in the previous eleven seasons to crack the 100-tackle mark in a year. A two-time Big South all-conference performer, Rojas still currently ranks in the top 10 in the conference record books for career tackles (348), assisted tackles (208) and forced fumbles (7).
Rojas' senior season in 2006 marked a dramatic change in the culture that surrounded Liberty football. After finishing the prior season with a 1-10 record, Rojas played a key role, both statistically and as an emotional team captain, helping the 2006 squad post a 6-5 record. The five-win improvement over the previous season marked the best turnaround in all of NCAA FCS football for the 2006 season.
A large part of Liberty's five-win improvement was due to the Flames' defensive efforts as Liberty set a new program standard by allowing just 172 total points and the Flames finished the year ranked No. 12 in scoring defense (15.6 points per game). Along with the new program record for points allowed, Liberty set seven other defensive records in 2006, including a new standard for shutouts, as Liberty blanked three opponents. The Flames also knocked off No. 24 Charleston Southern, 34-20, in their season finale, marking the first Top 25 program Liberty had defeated in a decade.
After concluding a stellar four-year career for the Flames, Rojas graduated from Liberty in 2007 with a bachelor of science degree in communication studies with an advertising and public relations concentration. He remained close to the program, working within the Athletics Department as a member of the strength and conditioning staff.
A native of Oakdale, Pennsylvania, he had a standout career at West Allegheny High School in Imperial, Pa. He was a three-year starter for the Indians, where he earned first team all-conference and All-State honors.
Rojas and his wife Deanna have two sons Aiden and Nico, and two daughters Camelia and Alina.
