Auburn hires Georgia's Rodney Garner as defensive line coach, assistant head coach
By Charles Goldberg | cgoldberg@al.com
on December 20, 2012 at 9:23 PM, updated December 20, 2012 at 9:48 PM
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Rodney Garner coaches up Jarvis Jones at Georgia, and now he's coming to Auburn (Steven Colquitt, Georgia)
AUBURN, Alabama – Rodney Garner is coming home to Auburn as assistant head coach and defensive line coach in a coup for Gus Malzahn as he puts together his new coaching staff.
Garner is leaving Georgia after 15 years as a coach and one of college football's top recruiters.
"Welcome Home, Coach Rodney Garner," tweeted Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs.
Garner played at Auburn from 1984-88 and was with the coaching staff from 1993-95. He's been at Georgia the last 15 seasons, and is the Bulldogs' defensive line coach, assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator.
He's the fifth assistant coach hired by Malzhan.
Malzahn's coaching staff presently consists of Garner, offensive line coach J.B. Grimes, offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson and secondary coach Charlie Harbison.
Malzahn is not keeping any of Gene Chizik's assistants. Additionally, Auburn is not rehiring graduate assistants Tony Gilbert, Aairon Savage and Jeff Castle. Special teams quality control coach Al Pogue will be retained, but will be given a new assignment.
The only holdovers from Chizik's staff are Pogue, Director of Player Personnel Scott Fountain, who has coordinated Auburn's recruiting for four years; and Director of Scouting Chad Lunceford.