Auburn Tigers Tab Former Alabama Crimson Tide Staffer As Co-Defensive Coordinator

The Auburn Tigers have hired this former Alabama staffer as co-defensive coordinator.

The Auburn Tigers have hired a co-defensive coordinator.

Charles Kelly, who was hired onto the Tigers' staff earlier this year, has officially been named co-defensive coordinator, per a statement from Auburn Athletics.

Kelly spent one season as DC for the Colorado Buffaloes underneath Deion Sanders. Prior to his stop at Colorado, Kelly was an assistant defensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide from 2019-2022. He was one of the Tide's best recruiters. He also previously spent time with the Tennessee Volunteers coaching special teams and safeties in 2018, and the Florida State Seminoles as defensive coordinator from 2014-2017.

"I am very grateful to return to a university and a football program that have meant so much to me growing up in this state and playing for Coach Dye," Kelly said. "It's an honor to work with Coach Freeze, whom I have a tremendous amount of respect for, and I'm appreciative of him for this opportunity. I look forward to helping Coach Freeze and this staff bring our program back to the caliber of championship football that Auburn deserves. As the Auburn Creed states, 'I believe in work, hard work.' I do not take this opportunity lightly and am ready to go to work. War Eagle!"

During his time with the Seminoles, Tide and Buffaloes, Kelly earned commitments from nine five-star players, most recently five-star cornerback Cormani McClain.

Florida State consistently had one of the best defenses in the country during Kelly's time with the Seminoles, finishing inside the top 20 of total defense in three of his four seasons. The same could not be said for his defense this season at Colorado, which finished No. 130 nationally - arguably due in part to the Buffs' lack of talent and depth on that side of the ball.

Kelly has also coached at Georgia Tech (2006-11), Nicholls State (2002-05), Eufaula (Ala.) High School (2000-01), Henderson State (1999), Jacksonville State (1994-98), Auburn (1993) and Phenix City (Ala.) High School (1990-92).