HOOVER, Ala. - Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn said he believes he put together one of the country’s top coaching staffs.
“On most college staffs, you have good coaches, good recruiters,” Malzahn said at SEC Media Days. “I can honestly say we got nine guys that can flat-out coach.”
Malzahn, a Fort Smith native who was an Arkansas high school coach for 14 years and began his college coaching career as Arkansas’ offensive coordinator in 2006, also has three assistants with strong ties to the state: offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, running backs coach Tim Horton and offensive line coach J.B. Grimes.
Lashlee played quarterback at Shiloh Christian and Arkansas and worked with Malzahn at Springdale High School, Arkansas, Auburn and Arkansas State.
“Rhett knows this offense like the back of his hand,” Malzahn said. “I’m going to be a part of the offense, but I have a lot of confidence that he’s going to allow me to do what the head coach needs to do in this league.”
Horton, a Conway native, was an Arkansas assistant the previous six seasons and played receiver for the Razorbacks.
“Tim Horton has been ultra-successful at the University of Arkansas as a coach and recruiter,” Malzahn said.
Grimes, from Clarendon, was an offensive lineman at Henderson State and a former assistant coach for the Razorbacks and Arkansas State as well as at the high school level with Nashville and Des Arc.
“J.B. Grimes is a guy we feel very good about,” Malzahn said. “He’s a great teacher.”
Sports, Pages 24 on 07/26/2013