Auburn football: Joe Bernardi expected to join Tigers’ coaching staff

While Auburn football is still on the hunt for a new defensive line coach after seeing Nick Eason head home to Clemson, head coach Bryan Harsin is adding other staff members to his crew, as well.

Just last week the Tigers announced that former Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline will be joining Auburn football’s staff as an offensive analyst after spending the past three years as the offensive coordinator for Ohio Dominican. He played for the Wildcats from 2006-2010 and went undrafted before spending time on both the Colts and the Patriots.

Now, 247Sports reports that Coach Harsin will be adding another staff member in Joe Bernardi, a former SEC assistant. He’ll join Auburn football as an offensive assistant to Harsin after working at San Jose State as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator from 2017-2019 following one year at Fresno State as the tight ends coach.

Bernardi spent two years as the offensive line quality control coach with the Tennessee Volunteers and worked with the offensive line and tight ends at Oregon from 2013-2015. He’s expected to hold a similar role with the Tigers, working closely with Will Friend’s position group.

It’s unsurprising that Bryan Harsin is working so hard to elevate the coaching staff after a disappointing first season on the Plains that resulted in the Tigers’ first losing record since 2012. He addressed the quarterback situation by adding a QB coach to the staff as offensive coordinator in Austin Davis as well as bringing on former Texas A&M Aggie Zach Calzada.

His attention has now turned to the Tigers’ offensive line, which is in better shape due to the confirmation that starting center Nick Brahms and tackle Austin Troxell will be returning in 2022. However, with only one offensive lineman signed to the class of 2022 so far, there is still work to be done.