AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Auburn has hired former Tigers player and assistant Rodney Garner as defensive line coach and assistant head coach.
Garner, whose hiring by Gus Malzahn was announced Thursday night, has spent the past 12 years in a similar capacity at Georgia.
He was an All- Southeastern Conference offensive lineman at Auburn in 1988 and worked at his alma mater from 1990-95 in various capacities. Garner will also serve as recruiting coordinator.
Garner's wife, Kimberly, is also an Auburn graduate. He says he looks forward "to helping get Auburn back to where it belongs."
He added the title of assistant head coach at Georgia in 2005 after serving as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator 1998.
Garner is also a former Tennessee assistant.
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Comments » 22
budd#207344 writes:
Watch jawja's teams the next two to four years. This will really hurt them . Garner is the top recruiter in the SEC and he lands great players. Will definitely help the Barn.
MarbleVol48 writes:
No doubt. This is best hire in SEC!
Pullingguard writes:
afraid those who we were hoping to get from Auburn might have been derailed by this hire.... He really helped Vols get some excellent players during his stay with Vols...
manning_berry_special_player1614 writes:
BLA.BLA.BLA..give us recruiting info please..on TENNESSEE go vols....happy recruiting
claiborneh writes:
Garner huge reason Fulmer recruited so good in 90s. Terrific hire. Bad for Georgia
claiborneh writes:
Sorry, going to have to wait until January for any action. Biggest potential news will be Derrick Greene announcement. 6 or 7 other 5 to 4 star chances. If TN lands 3 or 4 could have top 10-15 class. This is about best one can hope for, then maybe grab a couple of under the radar Jucos.
Clean slate now. Peterman is going to be QB and flourish.
proudveteran writes:
Garner got fed up with being continually passed over for the Defensive Coordinator position at Georgia. It's "open" season on players out of Georgia now with Garner going to Auburn. Garner also "played" Tennessee twice to obtain substantial pay increases at Georgia. Look for Georgia to look at Lance Thompson on the Alabama staff for a replacement.
chattabluetick writes:
Lance Thompson, now theres a name. Too bad Vols didn't name him D. C. last year instead of Sal experiment. Things may have turned out alot different.
bob.bigorange#605842 writes:
yeah we might still have doofus, who can't coach his way out of a paper sack.
arkyvol writes:
simple reminder of an obvious fact: he wouldn't work for dooley and hammy at any price. gus gets him with one phone call.
CCLC writes:
Recruiting has changed since CRG cast such a large shadow across Atlanta. 15 years can be a grind and it has begun to show. I believe he has lost a step. No spin. He was one of the best. But lately he has been slow to close, his follow up with recruits has slipped and he has waited too long to pull the trigger.
" Something wonky is going on here behind the scenes.
Why would you leave:
-a potential #1 recruiting class
-a program that is literally inches away from playing for a national title
-a firmly established coach and staff
-a situation you’re comfortable with
for:
-a program in the cellar, that has a long climb ahead of it (okay, that’s two technically)
-a new head coach and staff
-said coach is a first-time head coach
-a recruiting situation in disarray
-high pressure to be successful rapidly
I mean, I understand the money and ‘mama calling’ and all, but honestly, the long view is that things are more secure here at Georgia. He’s far more likely to be on the street in two-to-three years after Auburn cleans house yet again than he’s is to enjoy a long and successful run (this being the SEC and all). The biggest promotion in the world isn’t going to mean anything if you don’t collect the money for as many years as you would’ve in your previous job— trust me, I know that one from personal experience.
Occam’s razor applies: something was going on behind the scenes— either Rodney was unhappy with his lack of promotion possibilities, or he was clashing with Grantham over coaching/schemes (FWIW, I always thought Garner was a 4-3 guy.)"
utjunkie writes:
This will hurt the dawgs, not that they won't have good classes but they will feel the loss. Auburn had to do something their class was falling apart.
Now maybe the big orange can steal a few more of those peach state players!
vettefool writes:
you know I always wondered why Fulmer let him get away to Ga. ut should have paid him well to stay. Fulmer would probably still be the coach and ut wouldn't be paying millions of $ to ex coaches no linger here. doug dickey was athletic director then and should have interceded to keep Garner.
TommyJack writes:
doubt he will do much d-line coaching. strictly a recruiter.
rtrchatt writes:
Rodney Garner is not even the best recruiter on
Jawjas staff much less the best in the SEC.
Lance Thompson has been the lead man for CNS with 5 star WR Robert Foster from Pa, 5 star OLB Jonathan Allan from Va, 5 star RB Derrick Henry from Fla, and 5 star TE OJ Howard from Al. Bama has 20 committs from 13 different states. A NATIONAL BRAND boys/girls....
UT making their second appearance in the Home for the Holidays Bowl in 2013... enjoy the game rocky flop.
manning_berry_special_player1614 writes:
i do agree that green will be a huge get for us....i just dont know why we have not got a good hb in the last decade...KRAZZZZZZYYYY
manning_berry_special_player1614 writes:
but ill have to disagree with ya on peterman tho...for justin is a mobile qb and has some really nice zip on his throws .....it will be a fun battle to watch in the spring...GO VOLS
VolFanInTheBoro (Inactive) writes:
Shen according to rivals Derrick Henry was recruited by Jeremy Pruitt, OJ Howard was recruited by Kirby Smart. Bandwagon fans should get their facts straight. Enjoy your insignificant life trolling the internet
pingkr62 writes:
I agree. Peterman is the man. If we can keep a good O-Line in front of him, he will flourish. Everyone will soon be saying "Tyler who?" G.B.O.!!!
Snapshot writes:
Why don't you stick it chatterbox. Then again you would probably enjoy that.
Central_IL_Vol writes:
Enjoy being a CLASSLESS, INBRED, MULLET-WEARING BAMMER MORON SCUMBAG!
Rammer-Jammer, Yeller-Hammer;
GO TO HELL ALABAMMER!!
GO IRISH; BEAT THE CRIMSON TURD!
GloryDays writes:
You can trace the decline of Tennessee and Philip Fulmer when Rodney Garner left the Vols and went to Georgia. Garner recruited Jamal Lewis, Deon Grant, Fred Weary, Tee Martin, Cosey Coleman a big part of the national Championship team.
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