Auburn restructures coaching staff, names new offensive coordinators

Auburn has an important road game against Mississippi State on Saturday, with a new era getting underway. Bryan Harsin was not the only coach let go, with some offensive staff members being shown the door as well. Interim head coach Carnell Williams still has some familiar faces on the sidelines but in completely new roles.

On3’s Auburn Live was the first to report on all of the changes before Auburn announced the changes on Tuesday afternoon.

Besides Williams taking over for Harsin, Will Friend being named the offensive coordinator is the biggest change occurring at Auburn. Previously the offensive line coach for the Tigers, Friend is replacing Eric Kiesau. He was one of the few coaches to follow Harsin down from Boise State when the hire was originally made.

Friend has been an offensive coordinator before, working with head coach Mike Bobo at Colorado State. In all three years, the Rams finished with a 7-6 record but Friend’s offense was among the top scoring in the country. His best season came in 2016, averaging 35.3 points per game — good enough for No. 28 across the FBS.

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Helping Friend will the offensive line will be Kendall Simmons, who previously served as an offensive analyst in the program. Simmons graduated from Auburn back in 2001, with a co-offensive lineman coaching spot going to someone who has been around the program before.

There will also be a promotion for wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard. While keeping his job with the pass catchers, Hilliard will serve as the co-offensive coordinator to Friend under Williams’ new regime. With both staying with their position group, splitting up the OC duties will help out.

Auburn tight ends, quarterbacks will get new position coach

Quarterback has been of a mixed bag for Auburn this season, with three guys seeing playing time. Robby Ashford was the one who started on Saturday against Arkansas, while TJ Finley began the year in the role. True freshman Holden Grenier has gotten snaps as well.

Kiesau served as the quarterbacks coach under Harsin but Mike Hartline will now take over the spot. He previously served as an offensive analyst, as Williams gives him a nice promotion to finish out the season.

The final change is at tight end, where Joe Bernardi Jr coaches a new position group. He was previously working with Friend as an offensive line assistant coach.