Sean Rochelle, a former assistant coach at the University of Houston, University of Arkansas and Clemson University, is in his second season as the defensive coordinator at Azusa Pacific.
The former director of football operations at the University of Houston, Rochelle returned to college football in 2001 after serving a year as an educational consultant for New Urban Alliance based in Indianapolis, Ind.
Rochelle brings an impressive blend of coaching and academics to the Cougar program. Prior to his season at Houston, he served 5 years as the coordinator of Student Athlete Support Services at Arkansas. He has a doctorate in adult education and a master's degree in higher education administration, both earned at Arkansas.
Rochelle played college football at NAIA-member University of Arkansas-Monticello, from which he graduated in 1989, summa cum laude.
Peter Shinnick, who is entering his third season at Azusa Pacific, is reunited with Rochelle for the first time in over 10 years. The pair began their coaching careers together, serving as graduate assistant coaches on Ken Hatfield's staffs at both Arkansas and Clemson.
Rochelle began coaching in the fall of 1989 at Arkansas and continued the following season at Clemson when Hatfield took over the Tiger program. He returned to his alma mater, Arkansas-Monticello, in 1991 and served 3 seasons as the Boll Weevils' defensive coordinator.
Along with his duties on the field, Rochelle coordinates the program's recruiting efforts and teaches within the university's physical education department.
