Auburn brings top assistant back home from Georgia
Georgia assistant Rodney Garner is leaving the Bulldogs to became assistant head coach/defensive line coach at Southeastern Conference rival Auburn.
Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs confirmed late Thursday night that Garner was joining new coach Guz Malzahn's staff.
Garner was an offensive lineman for Auburn in the 1980s and worked there as recruiting coordinator, tight ends coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach from 1990 to 1995. He had served as Georgia's recruiting coordinator since 1998 and also was the defensive line coach and assistant head coach.
"We are excited to announce Rodney Garner as our assistant head coach and defensive line coach," Malzahn said in a statement. "Rodney is one of the top defensive line coaches in college football who has had great success in the Southeastern Conference. It is great to welcome an Auburn man back home."
The longest-tenured Georgia assistant is considered one of the top recruiters in the nation, consistently landing classes ranked in the top 10. The Bulldogs currently have 30 commitments for 2013.
"Auburn has always been a very special place for me and my wife, Kimberly, who is also an Auburn graduate," Garner said. "I owe a lot to Auburn and the men who helped mold me to who I am today both professionally and personally.
"I'm very appreciative to coach Malzahn for this opportunity and I feel very strongly that I can be an asset to the program. I have a lot of love for Auburn and I felt this was a great chance to help give back to a place that has given me so much. I look forward to helping get Auburn back to where it belongs."
