Tag: Eric Kiesau

Gators adding former Auburn OC to staff as analyst

Billy Napier added an analyst with experience as an offensive coordinator in the SEC to his staff on Sunday.

Billy Napier added former Auburn offensive coordinator [autotag]Eric Kiesau[/autotag] to his staff on Sunday, according to Matt Zenitz of On3.

Kiesau will serve as an analyst for Napier’s Florida Gators. He spent the last two years working his way up from analyst to offensive coordinator with the Tigers but was fired along with several other staff members (including head coach Bryan Harsin) on Halloween. Napier is familiar with Kiesau from their time coaching at Alabama together in 2015 and obviously still sees value in him in a more minor position.

It’s too soon to tell how large of a role Kiesau will play, but he does have extensive experience calling plays for Boise State, Colorado, Fresno State and Washington in addition to Auburn. Napier was criticized at times during his first year for mismanaging time and playcalling, so Kiesau could help out there.

He’s also specialized in coaching quarterbacks in the past, so Kiesau could work with what is essentially a clean slate in the quarterbacks room. Wisconsin transfer [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag] is just getting settled in Gainesville, and [autotag]Jack Miller III[/autotag] has spent just a few weeks practicing as Florida’s starter after recovering from a thumb injury and taking over for [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag].

It is worth noting that Auburn’s passing game didn’t thrive while Kiesau was there. Instead, it was the rushing attack that led the way, and Florida has a solid foundation on the ground. Both [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] return after serving as one of the best backfield tandems in the game last year.

Kiesau certainly has a lot of talent to work with in Gainesville and is familiar with what it takes to win in the SEC.

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Florida hires former Auburn staffer under Bryan Harsin

Bryan Harsin’s offensive coordinator in 2022 will be staying in the SEC.

One of Bryan Harsin’s former assistant coaches is staying in the SEC.

Former Tigers offensive coordinator [autotag]Eric Kiesau[/autotag], who was recently let go by Auburn as new coach Hugh Freeze brought his own staff to the Plains, is set to join the Florida Gators in an analyst role as reported by Matt Zenitz of On3.

Kiesau came to Auburn in 2021 as an offensive analyst, but he was quickly promoted to wide receivers coach four games into the 2021 season. He was further promoted in 2022 when he earned the offensive coordinator job in Harsin’s second campaign — that wouldn’t last, though. Auburn struggled during the 2022 campaign on the offensive side of the ball, causing the Tigers to fire him and multiple other staff members on Halloween.

The Gators will hire Kiesau coming off a disappointing season in Gainesville, Florida, that saw Florida struggle to make a bowl game and get blown out in the Las Vegas Bowl against Oregon State. With quarterback Anthony Richardson declaring for the NFL draft, head coach Billy Napier looks to strengthen the offensive side of the ball through Kiseau’s hiring.

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Photo Gallery: Auburn Football’s revamped staff leads its first practice

Here is a look at the first practice under interim head coach Carnell Williams.

Just one day after the announcement of the dismissal of [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag], offensive coordinator [autotag]Eric Kiesau[/autotag], tight ends coach [autotag]Brad Bedell[/autotag], and several other staffers, a revamped coaching staff was constructed and revealed to the public.

The staff, led by interim head coach Carnell Williams, includes new roles for seven assistant coaches and staffers. Several coaches’ roles remain the same, including defensive coordinator [autotag]Jeff Schmedding[/autotag], defensive line coach [autotag]Jimmy Brumbaugh[/autotag], linebackers coach [autotag]Christian Robinson[/autotag], and special team coordinator [autotag]Roc Bellatoni[/autotag].

Tuesday, the new-look staff held its first practice, as they prepare to coach their first game this Saturday at Mississippi State. Here is a look at the best images from Tuesday’s practice, courtesy of Auburn Athletics photographer Todd Van Emst.

Tigers fire more position coaches

Bryan Harsin wasn’t the only Auburn coach let go on Monday.

The Auburn Tigers are wasting no time making changes.

247Sports’ Nathan King reported on Monday that Auburn is firing additional staff members along with head coach [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag]. Offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau and tight ends coach Brad Bedell are the biggest names, as the two were among Harsin’s Boise State-related hires, but the team has also laid off some additional support staffers.

Kiesau had been at Boise State from 2017-20 and followed Harsin to Auburn. He was initially the team’s wide receivers coach in 2021 before being promoted as the team’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Kiesau was the team’s playcaller on offense before being fired.

Bedell, meanwhile, had been at Boise State for the same amount of time. He served as the offensive line coach and running game coordinator for the Broncos, and despite playing guard at the college and professional level, was named as the team’s tight ends coach for 2021-22.

The team’s defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding, who was Boise State’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach under Harsin from 2019-20, was not fired by the team. Running backs coach Cadillac Williams will take over as interim head coach when the team plays Mississippi State in Starkville, Mississippi on Saturday.

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Auburn offers 2023 wide receiver Chance Fitzgerald

Chance Fitzgerald has received 20 scholarship offers in October alone.

[autotag]Chance Fitzgerald[/autotag]’s recruitment has blown up over the past week with offers pouring in from all over the country.

The 6-foot-3, 184-pound Fitzgerald is from Nolensville, Tennessee, and has earned 20 scholarship offers in October alone.

Auburn is the latest school to extend an offer to the talented wide receiver, with offensive coordinator [autotag]Eric Kiesau[/autotag] doing so on Thursday.

Fitzgerald is a three-star recruit and is ranked as the No. 501 overall recruit and No. 67 wide receiver in the 247Sports Composite ranking. He is also the No. 15 prospect from Tennessee.

Auburn currently has two wide receivers committed in the 2023 recruiting class, four-stars Adam Hopkins and Daquayvious Sorey.

Fitzgerald has had an impressive start to his senior season, leading Nolensville High School to an 8-0 start.

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Look: Best photos from Auburn’s second fall scrimmage

Auburn had their second scrimmage Friday and it sounds like there is more separation in the quarterback battle.

We are officially two weeks away from Auburn’s opening game against Mercer and the Tigers completed their second scrimmage of fall Friday.

The Tigers are looking for a quarterback to separate himself from the pack and it sounds like [autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag] has done just that. Offensive coordinator [autotag]Eric Kiesau[/autotag] was impressed by Finley’s command of the offense.

“My feel, my gut, just without watching it, just from calling the game, was just T.J had a really good command,” Kiesau said. “He had a lot of precision. He checked some plays for us and got us in the right play, which is good.”

He added that it is still tough to determine a starter out of Finley, [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag], and [autotag]Zach Calzada[/autotag].

“It’s going to be a hard one,” Kiesau. “I can tell you that right now. They’ve all kind of played really well, and we’ve gotta see who’s going to step out in front a little bit after tonight.”

Another interesting development was that Tank Bigsby did not participate, not because of injury but because they wanted the other running backs to get more reps.

Here are the best photos from the practice courtesy of Auburn athletics’ Todd Van Emst.

LOOK: Photos from Auburn’s Sunday practice

Here are some of the best photos from Auburn’s practice on Sunday.

Auburn completed its first partial week of fall camp on Sunday. The Tigers will start their first full week of practice on Monday and have their first scrimmage coming on Saturday.

The biggest question around Auburn’s fall camp is about who will win the quarterback battle, with the Tigers having their first true battle at quarterback since 2019. [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag] and offensive coordinator [autotag]Eric Kiesau[/autotag] also have to replace several starting wide receivers and see if any changes are needed along the offensive line.

The Tigers still have several weeks to answer these questions and until then here are some photos from Auburn athletics photographer Todd Van Emst.

Shenker on the offense: ‘I think it’s a little bit easier with Eric Kiesau’

John Samuel Shenker think’s the communication among the offense will be better than last year.

All eyes are going to be on Auburn’s offense at the start of the 2022 season. The Tigers will have a new offensive coordinator, a new starting quarterback and an unproven group of receivers.

Despite these changes, veteran tight end [autotag]John Samuel Shenker[/autotag] thinks the group will have it easier than last season. His reasoning is that while [autotag]Eric Kiesau[/autotag] may be entering his first season as Auburn’s offensive coordinator, he and [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag] have plenty of experience.

“I think it’s a little bit easier this year with [Offensive Coordinator] Eric Kiesau, because they’re on the same page,” he said. “They’ve been together for a while now.”

“They see that. And now we get it be a part of that. I think with Eric Kiesau there’s a whole different dimension of communication. Allowing all of us to be on same page and pushing towards the same goal.”

Shenker is not wrong, Kiesau spent four seasons at Boise State with Harsin. He was the wide receivers coach from 2017-19 before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2020. It would make since that the two of them would have a better understanding of what the other is looking for and that it would help the offense.

“To be on that same page is really beneficial for our offense,” Shenker added. “Like Tank said, added run emphasis as well. But I also think it creates better communication with our wide receivers and tight ends.”

The offense will be put to the test when the Tigers open the season against Mercer in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Sep. 3. Shenker also answered several other questions during his availability, here is everything he said.

Tigers extend an offer to 2024 WR from Alabama

Auburn extended an offer to 2024 wide receiver Cameron Coleman on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the Auburn coaching staff extended an offer to 2024 wide receiver Cameron Coleman.

He is a teammate of 2023 Auburn wide receiver target Karmello English. The two play for Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama. That is the same high school former Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix coaches for.

Coleman is unranked on 247Sports’ recruiting rankings. He is listed at 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds. The two other teams that have offered Coleman are Oregon and Texas A&M. His name recently circulated as the Red Devils’ spring practices began. The team from east Alabama has several notable players that have reached the collegiate and professional level. Justyn Ross (Kansas City Chiefs) and J.D. McKissic (Washington Commanders) are both alumni of the school.

Former Red Devils playing at the collegiate level are E.J. Williams (Clemson), Jackson Meeks (Georgia) and Josh Jones (Kentucky). It is also worth noting the team also has English and 2023 five-star cornerback AJ Harris who transferred from Glenwood Academy this offseason.

Coleman certainly possesses the size and athleticism the Tigers receiving corps could utilize in the future. His stature is similar to former Auburn wide receiver Seth Williams — 6 feet, 3 inches, 211 pounds. Offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau could definitely give Coleman some opportunities on the Tigers’ offense in the near future if he were to stay close to home. Auburn fans would love to have a local kid relocate to The Plains for his college career.

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Eric Kiesau is already facing the pressure of leading Auburn’s offense

Eric Kiesau will need Auburn’s offense to get off to a hot start to quiet the doubters.

[autotag]Eric Kiesau[/autotag] may be entering his first season as Auburn’s offensive coordinator but he is already facing some of the most pressure in the country.

Mike Huguenin of On3 included Kiesau in his list of the 10 new offensive coordinators that are facing the most pressure. Here is what he had to say about Auburn’s new coordinator.

The pressure really has nothing to do with stats and everything to do with the soap opera that is Auburn football. Coach Bryan Harsin was left swaying in the wind for a few weeks after the season, and a lot of folks thought he was going to be fired. While Harsin kept his job, the uncertainty led to Austin Davis, who had been hired as the OC to replace Mike Bobo, leaving less than a month after he was hired. Kiesau, who was wide receiver coach last season, then was named the coordinator. Kiesau, who came with Harsin from Boise State, is taking over an offense that was mediocre last season. Auburn has a nice group of running backs, but who’s the quarterback? The candidates are holdover T.J. Finley, Texas A&M transfer Zach Calzada and Oregon transfer Robby Ashford. And the receiving corps is just as underwhelming. Harsin is on one of the hottest seats around.

There is something to be said about relying on the guys who got you here and Kiesau and Harsin have worked together since 2017 when Harsin hired him to coach wide receivers at Boise State.

Kiesau, along with position coach Ike Hillard, will need to work some magic on Auburn’s group of unproven receivers. Shedrick Jackson and Ja’Varrius Johnson were solid last season but no one else has caught 10 or more passes.

If Kiesau can jumpstart the offense then Harsin’s seat may cool off but if the offense starts slow, both of their seats could get even hotter.