Auburn football: 3 early options to replace Austin Davis at OC

After just completing the search for a new defensive line coach, linebackers coach, and defensive coordinator, Auburn football head coach Bryan Harsin will have to begin another coaching search on the other side of the ball. With just 43 days on the job under his belt, newly hired offensive coordinator Austin Davis announced this morning he would be officially resigning.

Now, the Tigers are set to have a five-way quarterback competition in the spring without an OC or quarterbacks coach. While it certainly isn’t the end of the world for the Auburn football program, it is a setback for Harsin after thinking he had just solidified his on-field staff for his second season.

With Austin Davis officially stepping down, here are three early options for Auburn football’s offensive coordinator.

OC Option #1: Eric Kiesau

Eric Kiesau joined Bryan Harsin’s inaugural Auburn staff as an offensive analyst but was promoted to wide receivers coach mid-season to replace Cornelius Williams following his firing after the Tigers’ game versus Georgia State.

Prior to his time on the Plains, Kiesau worked under Harsin at Boise State for four years in various positions, including wide receivers coach, quarterbacks coach, and offensive coordinator.

According to Auburn Live, Kiesau was offered the OC job after Mike Bobo’s departure, but Kiesau felt he wasn’t ready for the role and wished to keep his role as WR coach. Now, with limited time left to conduct a new search, it’s likely that Harsin will promote from within, but if Kiesau declines the position, there are two more options he should consider bringing to the Plains.

OC Option #2: Tee Martin

Currently serving as the wide receivers coach for the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL, Tee Martin was born and raised in Alabama and could benefit Auburn football by returning to his home state.

A former SEC quarterback, Tee Martin was Peyton Manning’s backup during his first two seasons at Tennessee before leading the 1998 Volunteers to a BCS National Championship over Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Martin has spent time coaching at many different programs, including Morehouse, New Mexico, and USC in addition to piling on plenty of SEC experience at Kentucky and Tennessee. Martin spent two years at Kentucky as the wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator, and was the wide receivers coach and assistant head coach under Jeremy Pruitt at Tennessee.

After Austin Davis was praised for his quarterback coaching potential, Martin would be a good choice considering the five-way quarterback competition the Tigers will run during the spring. On the other hand, if Eric Kiesau is promoted to offensive coordinator, Martin could also be brought in to take over the wide receivers room.

Either way, with a spot to fill on the staff, Harsin should consider a man with both SEC and NFL experience that knows quarterbacks and wide receivers.

OC Option #3: Dameyune Craig

Another Alabama native, Dameyune Craig has deep ties to Auburn football. Craig played for the Tigers from 1993 to 1997 and was the starting quarterback for his final two seasons on the Plains. During his time in orange and blue, Craig led the Tigers to an Independence Bowl victory in 1996 and an SEC West title and SEC Championship appearance in 1997.

Craig has coached at many programs around the south, including Tuskegee, South Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Auburn, and Texas A&M. Around the SEC, Craig served as Auburn football’s co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2013 to 2015, LSU’s wide receivers coach in 2016, and has been Texas A&M’s wide receivers coach since 2018.

Not only does Craig offer plenty of SEC coaching experience, but he’s also an Auburn man with experience playing and coaching for the Tigers.

With all the turnover in Bryan Harsin’s first-year staff, it would be a good move to bring home an Auburn alum that truly cares about the success of the program and has a wealth of quarterback knowledge.