Auburn set to add Charles Kelly, former Auburn player, Colorado DC, per report Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers are expected to hire Colorado defensive coordinator and Auburn alum Charles Kelly, 247 Sports’ Matt Zenitz first reported Saturday morning.
Kelly, who joined Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes on Dec. 6, 2022, is expected to jump ship after only one season with Colorado and join Auburn’s defensive staff, which will still be overseen by defensive coordinator Ron Roberts.
After Auburn’s defensive backs coach Wesley McGriff traded his on-field role for one off the field, it was special teams coordinator Tanner Burns who filled the vacancy. It’s thought that on-field position would now go to Kelly, who will coach Auburn’s secondary alongside Zac Etheridge.
Prior to joining Sanders’ staff, Kelly was at Alabama, where he served as the Crimson Tide’s associate defensive coordinator and safeties coach from 2019-22. During his four-season time under Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa, Kelly helped Alabama to a 47-6 record, which included capturing a national title in 2020.
Kelly’s time at Alabama succeeded one season at Tennessee (2018), which came after five seasons at Florida State. Kelly served as the Seminoles’ special teams coordinator and linebackers coach in 2013 and was later promoted to FSU’s defensive coordinator – a post he maintained from 2014-17.
In his five seasons in Tallahassee, Florida State’s defense rated among the top 25 in his final three seasons.
Kelly got his start in the FBS ranks in 2006 as the special teams coordinator at Georgia Tech, where he spent the following seven seasons.
The acquisition of Kelly is also certain to improve Auburn’s red-hot recruiting efforts as Kelly was awarded last year’s national recruiter of the year by 247 Sports.
A native of Ozark, Ala., Kelly graduated from Auburn in 1990 with a degree in secondary math education. He later obtained his master’s degree in education from Troy in 2002.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Colorado defensive coordinator Charles Kelly is expected to leave the Buffs for a job on the defensive staff at Auburn, sources tell @247Sports.
Before Colorado, Kelly worked at Alabama and Tennessee and as a defensive coordinator at Florida State.https://t.co/dJORJ80Uo5 pic.twitter.com/TV7LkYErXx
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 30, 2023
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