Charles Kelly took Jacksonville State's head coaching job this offseason, leaving Hugh Freeze's Auburn football staff as co-defensive coordinator. Kelly deferred play-calling to DJ Durkin in favor of recruiting and helped AU land several defensive difference-makers in the 2024 and 2025 recruiting classes. He also helped develop the Tigers' safety room.
AU may feel his loss profoundly. Kelly is, according to AL.com's Peter Rauterkus, "impossible to replace."
Rauterkus was discussing his loss through the lens of T.J. Rushing's promotion to safeties coach.
"It’s an almost impossible to replace a coach like Charles Kelly. Rushing doesn’t have the deep resume and years of experience that Kelly has, but he’s a proven assistant in the Southeastern Conference who already understands Durkin’s defense," Rauterkus wrote.
Eric Winters, a safety from Enterprise, Alabama who committed to Auburn's 2025 class because of Kelly, echoed a similar sentiment.
“I mean, it was heartbreaking,” Winters told AL.com. “But I told him, I respect it, and I’m happy for him because that’s what happens in his profession. You get a better job, you’ve got to take it.
“It was heartbreaking to see him go, but I’m proud of him.
“He never lets up, and he just keeps the gas on the pedal and just keeps that same bond. It just keeps getting stronger and stronger and stronger.
“They’re getting a great man, a great coach, and a guy that’s going to give them their all."
Kelly made a name for himself as Nick Saban's right-hand man in Tuscaloosa for many years. He'll likely always have a role available in the state. As Jax State's head coach, he may have a long-term landing spot to build after Rich Rodriguez left the post to return to West Virginia.
If Kelly never rolls back around to the Plains, his lone campaign was a successful one.