Kodi Burns to coach running backs at Samford

AUBURN -- Former Auburn wide receiver and offensive graduate assistant Kodi Burns has been hired to coach running backs for Pat Sullivan at Samford, the school announced Monday.

"Kodi has excelled as a player and coach, but more importantly, he is an outstanding person," Sullivan said in a statement. "He will be a tireless recruiter that will relate well to both our players and coaches. We could not be more excited to have Kodi join the Samford football family."

Burns worked under coach Gus Malzahn and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee last season at Auburn and in 2012 at Arkansas State.

"Kodi was a great asset for us the past two seasons and was a big part of our success," Lashlee said, "He has a very bright future in college coaching and will fit in well with coach Sullivan and his staff. Home run hire for them."

Burns is following a similar career path to Lashlee, a former college quarterback who served as a graduate assistant under Malzahn before working as offensive coordinator at Samford in 2011.

"He's got a bright future. I think his best days are ahead of him," Malzahn said before his Tiger Trek stop in Mobile Monday night. "He's a lot like Rhett Lashlee."

A Fort Smith, Arkansas native, Burns helped coach and develop Heisman Trophy finalist Tre Mason, as well as wide receiver Sammie Coates last season.

"(Samford is) getting an outstanding human being. Very good football coach. He understands the game," Malzahn said. "He can work under pressure. There's probably more pressure on (him on) Saturdays than anybody else when he's beside me - all the signaling and making things right.

"He can work under pressure and he's going to be an excellent coach. He's got very good communication skills. Players really respond to him. He's really stable. The moment's not too big; when the pressure is the highest, he's under control."

Burns played both quarterback and wide receiver at Auburn from 2007 to 2010. He was a wide receiver on Auburn's BCS National Championship team, scoring a 35-yard touchdown in the title game.

Burns earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in exercise science from Auburn in 2011 and is currently pursuing his Master's Degree from Auburn.

Malzahn isn't expecting any other turnover among the graduate assistants. Lashlee is working on finding a replacement.

"Obviously, we'd like to go quicker rather than later," Malzahn said.