AUBURN — <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/coach/tanner-burns-244799/">Tanner Burns</a> is expected to join Texas State’s coaching staff as associate head coach/special teams coordinator/defensive analyst, sources confirm to Auburn Live.



Burns is close friends with Texas State head coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/coach/gj-kinne-131747/">GJ Kinne</a>. In that light, sources inside the Auburn football building weren’t surprised by Burns’ decision.



Within the last week, Burns was given additional duties on Auburn’s staff, adding “defensive assistant” to his title, along with maintaining his special teams duties. Despite the added responsibilities and title change, Burns is instead leaving for another opportunity.



<a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/auburn-tigers/news/roc-bellantoni-set-to-rejoin-auburn-staff-as-edge-olb-coach/">The Burns’ news comes on the same day that news broke regarding Roc Bellantoni being expected to join the Auburn coaching staff.</a> Bellantoni will coach the Edge/OLB position, the same position he coached while at Auburn in 2022. Bellantoni spent the last two seasons as Florida Atlantic’s defensive coordinator.



Sources tell Auburn Live that as of Tuesday night, who will coordinate Auburn’s special teams has not been decided. Bellantoni did coordinate special teams during the 2022 season at Auburn, so he certainly possesses the capability.



Auburn endured some struggles on special teams during the 2024 season. Returning starting kicker <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/alex-mcpherson-3203/">Alex McPherson</a> dealt with health issues and was mostly not available. McPherson made one of two kicks at Kentucky. Freshman kicker <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/towns-mcgough-174857/">Towns McGough</a> made only five of 12 attempts on the season. And walk-on kicker Ian Vachon made six of eight attempts in four games late in the season.



Auburn also suffered through a string of games during the middle of the season that included multiple penalties on kickoff returns. 



Following the win at Kentucky, head coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/hugh-freeze-134705/">Hugh Freeze</a> said of consistent penalties occurring on kickoff returns, “did you see my reaction on that this time? Me and Tanner (Burns) had a discussion on that one (laughter). I begged him. There was no more after that one, I assure you. We’re not doing that anymore. If we have to start another possession inside the 25 because we have a penalty on a return, I’m going to lose it. That has to stop”



The Tigers finished third in average yards per opponent punt return (3.75), and seventh in average yards per opponent kickoff return yards (20.50). Auburn finished 11th in average punt return yards (6.74) and fourth in average kickoff return yards (22.13).

Tanner Burns

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Tanner Burns moving on from Auburn, joining Texas State coaching staff

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