Auburn Football officially announced the hiring of Kodi Burns, a former Tennessee assistant coach, on Friday. Burns will serve as the associate head coach, the co-offensive coordinator, and the wide receivers coach of Alex Golesh’s inaugural staff.
Burns spent one season with Tennessee as the Vols’ wide receivers coach in 2021. He helped shape Tennessee’s first offense in the Heupel era before taking the same position with the New Orleans Saints from 2022 to 2024. Golesh, the Vols’ then-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach, worked closely with Burns on the offensive side of the ball during their lone season together in Knoxville.
Burns also worked on Golesh’s staff at South Florida in 2025 as the Bulls’ assistant head coach, the co-offensive coordinator, and the wide receivers coach.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with Kodi three times in my career, and there was no question that I would bring him back to his alma mater,” Golesh said in an Auburn press release. “KB is one of the top offensive coaches and recruiters in the country and is a true man of integrity. I know he will help us lead our team to where it needs to go and be a tremendous resource to me as associate head coach. I am thankful he trusts me, and that he is ready to take on this challenge with our players and staff at a place that is so special to him.”
More From RTI: Top Assistant Coach Signs Contract Extension With Tennessee Football
The news on Friday doesn’t come as a surprise, but it does make things official. Auburn247’s Nathan King first reported back on Dec. 1 that Burns was expected to follow Golesh in the move from South Florida to Auburn, his alma mater. Burns was a wide receiver on Auburn’s 2010 BCS National Championship team.
Auburn Football also announced the official hiring of Tim Banks as the safeties coach on Friday, a position that he held at Tennessee in addition to his role as defensive coordinator for five seasons.
Golesh, Burns, and Banks will all return to Knoxville during the 2026 season. Tennessee is set to host Auburn on Oct. 3 in Neyland Stadium.
Welcome 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄, @KodiBurns 🦅
🗞️: https://t.co/7k6uHyiDQA pic.twitter.com/6EDg6G9wdY
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) December 12, 2025
