Auburn Football formally announces Charles Kelly as new co-defensive coordinator

Auburn officially announced a big defensive staff move on Friday as head coach Hugh Freeze and Co. retool heading into Year 2 on The Plains. And they’ll be doing so with co-defensive coordinator Charles Kelly in the fold.

Kelly spent the 2023 season at Colorado. He’s a former Auburn football player, playing under legendary head coach Pat Dye.

“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 in a press release announcing his hire. “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!”

Kelly, who is considered a top recruiter, spent four seasons prior to his year at Colorado coaching defense for Alabama. He served as an associate defensive coordinator and worked heavily with defensive backs, particularly the safeties, a position he’s coached frequently.

He’s also been a defensive assistant coach at Tennessee, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and a number of other stops.

Auburn was in the market for a new DC after the departure of Ron Roberts

Florida is staying within the SEC to make a key defensive hire. The Gators are hiring Ron Roberts away from Auburn as executive head coach for defense, according to On3’s Zach Abolverdi.

Abolverdi noted that Roberts will also be the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Billy Napier‘s Gators.

On3’s Justin Hokanson told Auburn Live subscribers earlier Monday that Roberts would likely coach elsewhere for the 2024 season and mentioned Florida as a potential landing spot.

Ron Roberts was on staff with Florida head coach Billy Napier together at Louisiana, serving as his defensive coordinator in 2018 and 2019. He then spent time at Baylor, before being hired by Hugh Freeze as the Auburn defensive coordinator ahead of the 2023 season.

The Auburn defense finished the 2023 season ranked No. 43 nationally in scoring defense at 22.6 points per game and No. 47 nationally in total defense at 357.2 yards per game.