THE FULL RUNDOWN OF AUBURN’S 2013 COACHING STAFF
Gus Malzahn ~ Head coach
Ellis Johnson ~ Defensive coordinator, linebackers
Rhett Lashlee ~ Offensive coordinator, quarterbacks
Rich Bisaccia ~ Assistant head coach, running backs, special teams
Dameyune Craig ~ Co-offensive coordinator, wide receivers
Rodney Garner ~ Associate head coach, recruiting coordinator, defensive line
J.B. Grimes ~ Offensive line
Charlie Harbison ~ Co-defensive coordinator, safeties
Tim Horton ~ Tight ends
Melvin Smith ~ Cornerbacks
By Aaron Brenner
abrenner@ledger-enquirer.com
@WarEagleExtra
AUBURN, Ala. – All aboard.
The Gus Bus is fully-staffed and ready to roll into the heat of signing season, and Auburn couldn’t be much more loaded with top recruiters after finishing out its coaches with Tim Horton, hired away from Arkansas to lead the Tigers’ tight ends by Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn Friday.
“Tim is a true professional and an outstanding coach and recruiter, who deserves a lot of credit for Arkansas’ success while he was there,” Malzahn said. “Tim is a man of character who will be a great compliment to our staff and a tremendous representative of the entire Auburn family.”
Horton, 45, hasn’t coached the position in two decades, when he coached Appalachian State tight ends from 1990-92. Since then, Horton has guided exclusively running backs and wide receivers at Appalachian State, Air Force, Kansas State and, for the past six seasons, Arkansas.
The Razorbacks are now led by new coach Bret Bielema, who did not retain Arkansas’ five-year recruiting coordinator responsible for mining Arkansas and Tennessee for prospects.
“It is an honor and privilege to work at Auburn University with Coach Malzahn and the tremendous group of people and coaches that he’s assembled,” Horton said. “My family and I are thrilled to be joining the Auburn family.”
Brandon Fulse and C.J. Uzomah will be juniors next year, complementary pieces for Horton to work with. Fulse is a capable blocker while Uzomah can run and catch in space, totaling seven catches for 136 yards – a 19.4 yards-per-grab average – and one touchdown.
With Horton, safeties coach Charlie Harbison, cornerbacks coach Melvin Smith, defensive line coach Rodney Garner and wide receivers coach Dameyune Craig, the Tigers stand a solid chance of sustaining its top-10 rated recruiting class.
Malzahn promised he’d complete his staff by Jan. 4 – the first day following an NCAA-mandated dead recruiting period – and delivered, pulling in his final three assistants within the past 24 hours.
A quiet period surfaces Sunday, followed by another dead period through Jan. 12. National Signing Day is Feb. 6.