Co-defensive coordinators have been hired by the Auburn Tigers.
Auburn Athletics has released a statement announcing Charles Kelly’s official appointment as co-defensive coordinator. Kelly joined the Tigers earlier this year.
Under Deion Sanders, Kelly played defence for the Colorado Buffaloes for a single season. Kelly served as the Alabama Crimson Tide’s assistant defensive coordinator from 2019 to 2022 before joining Colorado. He was a top recruiter for the Tide. In addition, he was the defensive coordinator for the Florida State Seminoles from 2014 to 2017 and the special teams and safeties coach for the Tennessee Volunteers in 2018.
“I am very grateful to return to a university and a football programme that have meant so much to me growing up in this state and playing for Coach Dye,” Kelly stated. “I’m grateful to Coach Freeze for this opportunity, as I greatly admire him, and it’s an honour to work with him. I’m excited to work with Coach Freeze and this team to return Auburn’s football programme to the level of national championship it deserves. “I believe in work, hard work,” as expressed in the Auburn Creed. I am prepared to start working right now and do not take this chance lightly. Eagle of War!”
Kelly received pledges from nine five-star players while he was with the Seminoles, Tide, and Buffaloes, the most recent being five-star cornerback Cormani McClain.
Throughout Kelly’s four seasons with the Seminoles, Florida State had one of the greatest defences in the nation, ranking in the top 20 overall three of those seasons. The Buffs’ lack of depth and skill on that side of the ball may have contributed to their defence being No. 130 in the country this season. However, the same could not be true for his unit at Colorado.
Moreover, Kelly has served as a coach at the following institutions: Henderson State (1999), Jacksonville State (1994–1998), Auburn (1993), Nicholls State (2002–05), Eufaula (Ala.) High School (2000–01), and Phenix City (Ala.) High School (1990.
