Possible off-field hire

[aubiefifty 18,255]

Auburn expected to hire former Liberty Flames assistant coach

Wade Peery

2–3 minutes

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Article written by:Wade Peery

(Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Auburn Tigers are expected to hire Liberty special teams coordinator and linebackers coach Tanner Burns in an off-field role, sources told On3’s Matt Zenitz on Wednesday evening. He’s expected to be a leading figure for the Tigers’ special teams’ unit. In joining Auburn, he’ll join his old head coach with the Liberty Flames, newly anointed Auburn head football coach Hugh Freeze.

Burns made his debut during the 2019 season with the Liberty Flames, when he worked as the teams’ special teams coordinator. He helped to guide Liberty to a bowl game victory.

Before joining the Liberty coaching staff, Burns served as a quality control coach for the special teams’ unit at Arkansas for five seasons (2014-2018). He coached Toby Baker, a former Ray Guy Award nominee–the award given to the best punter in the nation. Baker averaged 43 yards per punt in 27 games for the Hogs.

When Burns coached at Liberty–three of the team’s 16 players that were named to the 2020 Phil Steele FBS Independent All-Conference team were special teams players: kicker Alex Barbir, kick returner Shedro Louis, and punt returner DeMario Douglas.

During the 2013 season, Burns spent time coaching with the Las Vegas Raiders. He worked as an intern for their special teams unit.

During the past few seasons, the Flames have become one of the more successful up-and-coming football programs across the college football landscape. They’ve made the jump to FBS football rather seamlessly. They became just the second FBS transitioning team in NCAA history to win three-consecutive bowl games in their first three seasons at the FBS level.

Liberty had yet another extremely successful season in 2022 (8-5 overall), even though they ended it with a loss in their bowl game to the Toledo Rockets. The Flames routed the BYU Cougars on Oct. 22 to the tune of a 41-14 beatdown that won’t be soon forgotten by the Liberty faithful. Following the departure of Hugh Freeze, the Flames recently hired former Coastal Carolina head coach Jamey Chadwell.

[Hank2020 3,357]

3 hours ago, aubiefifty said:

Auburn expected to hire former Liberty Flames assistant coach

Wade Peery

2–3 minutes

---

Article written by:Wade Peery

(Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Auburn Tigers are expected to hire Liberty special teams coordinator and linebackers coach Tanner Burns in an off-field role, sources told On3’s Matt Zenitz on Wednesday evening. He’s expected to be a leading figure for the Tigers’ special teams’ unit. In joining Auburn, he’ll join his old head coach with the Liberty Flames, newly anointed Auburn head football coach Hugh Freeze.

Burns made his debut during the 2019 season with the Liberty Flames, when he worked as the teams’ special teams coordinator. He helped to guide Liberty to a bowl game victory.

Before joining the Liberty coaching staff, Burns served as a quality control coach for the special teams’ unit at Arkansas for five seasons (2014-2018). He coached Toby Baker, a former Ray Guy Award nominee–the award given to the best punter in the nation. Baker averaged 43 yards per punt in 27 games for the Hogs.

When Burns coached at Liberty–three of the team’s 16 players that were named to the 2020 Phil Steele FBS Independent All-Conference team were special teams players: kicker Alex Barbir, kick returner Shedro Louis, and punt returner DeMario Douglas.

During the 2013 season, Burns spent time coaching with the Las Vegas Raiders. He worked as an intern for their special teams unit.

During the past few seasons, the Flames have become one of the more successful up-and-coming football programs across the college football landscape. They’ve made the jump to FBS football rather seamlessly. They became just the second FBS transitioning team in NCAA history to win three-consecutive bowl games in their first three seasons at the FBS level.

Liberty had yet another extremely successful season in 2022 (8-5 overall), even though they ended it with a loss in their bowl game to the Toledo Rockets. The Flames routed the BYU Cougars on Oct. 22 to the tune of a 41-14 beatdown that won’t be soon forgotten by the Liberty faithful. Following the departure of Hugh Freeze, the Flames recently hired former Coastal Carolina head coach Jamey Chadwell.

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