BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford football program has hired former Auburn player and assistant Kodi Burns as an assistant coach, Bulldog head coach Pat Sullivan announced Monday.
 
"Kodi has excelled as a player and coach, but more importantly, he is an outstanding person," Sullivan said. "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, who will coach the Samford running backs, comes to the Homewood campus after spending the 2013 season as an offensive graduate assistant at Auburn, working under head coach Gus Malzahn and former Samford offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. Burns was a part of the staff that took Auburn from a 3-9 record in 2012 to a 12-2 mark in 2013. The 2013 Tigers won the Southeastern Conference title, and played in the BCS National Championship game.
 
In his season on the Auburn staff, Burns helped coach and develop Heisman Trophy finalist Tre Mason, as well as wide receiver Sammie Coates, who ranked third in the nation in yards per catch. He also assisted with the implementation of the offensive system and with game planning while at Auburn.
 
Prior to coaching at Auburn, Burns spent the 2012 season working as an offensive graduate assistant under Malzahn and Lashlee at Arkansas State. During his season at ASU, Burns helped lead the program to the Sun Belt Conference championship, posting a record of 10-3 overall and 7-1 in conference play. The team also earned the program's first bowl win, defeating Kent State, 17-13, in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
 
While working at Arkansas State, Burns helped coach Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year and all-time leading passer Ryan Aplin. He also helped coach Freshman All-America wide receiver J.D. McKissic.
 
Burns played both quarterback and wide receiver at Auburn from 2007 to 2010. During the 2010 season, Burns was a wide receiver on Auburn's BCS National Championship team. He also played in the Outback Bowl in 2009 and was the Most Valuable Player of the Chick-fil-A Bowl in 2007.
 
Burns earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in exercise science from Auburn in 2011. He is currently pursuing his Master's Degree from Auburn as well.