Rodney Garner
Associate Head Coach/Defensive Line

Former Auburn standout player and coach Rodney Garner, who helped the Tigers to a 2013 SEC Championship and a BCS Championship berth, returned to his alma mater that same season as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator.

In 2013, Auburn had the second biggest turnaround in college football history in NCAA records at +8.0 games. Garner coached senior defensive end Dee Ford, who was a Ted Hendricks Award semifinalist and SI.com All-America honorable mention as well as both a Coaches All-SEC first-team and Associated Press All-SEC first-team selection, and junior defensive tackle Gabe Wright, an AP All-SEC honorable mention pick.

Ford was the first-round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2014 NFL Draft, No. 23 overall.

An All-SEC player at Auburn in 1988 who previously coached on The Plains from 1990-95, Garner coaches the defensive line daily in practice. Garner spent the previous 15 years at Georgia in a similar capacity.

A native of Leeds, Ala., Garner was named All-SEC offensive line and honorable mention All-America as a senior at Auburn in 1988, captaining the team that captured the 1988 SEC Championship. As a coach for the Tigers, Garner served in several capacities on the Auburn staff from 1990-95 including recruiting coordinator, tight ends coach, and assistant strength and conditioning coach.

During his 15 years at Georgia, he was part of a staff that led UGA to 117 victories, two SEC Championships, five SEC Eastern Division titles, seven bowl victories and six top 10 finishes in the final national polls, including No. 2 in 2007 and No. 3 in 2002. He added the title of assistant head coach at Georgia in 2005 after serving as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Georgia since January 1998.

In 2012, Garner helped the Bulldogs to an 11-2 record, the SEC Eastern Division title and a berth in the Capital One Bowl. The Georgia defense ranked 17th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 18.7 points per game. He was part of the 2005 Georgia team that finished eighth nationally in scoring defense (16.4 ppg).

The 2003 Georgia defense finished second nationally in scoring defense (14.5 ppg), fourth in total defense (276.86 ypg), sixth in passing defense (174.50 ypg, 1st in the SEC), while helping the Bulldogs to a divisional title. Garner helped coach the 2002 Bulldog defense that finished first in the SEC and fourth nationally in scoring defense (15.1 ppg), first in the SEC in red zone defense (58.8%) and second in the SEC in rushing defense (114.0 ypg). The 2002 Bulldogs finished 13-1, won the SEC and Nokia Sugar Bowl Championships and ranked third in the final national polls.

Garner participated in the inaugural Minority Coaches Forum in Scottsdale, Ariz., in 2006. He was also selected as one of 10 coaches to participate in the 2004 NCAA Expert Coaching Academy in Indianapolis and one of only 20 chosen for the NCAA's 2004 Advanced Coaching Academy in Orlando.

At Georgia, he coached five NFL first round draft choices -- Richard Seymour (Patriots) and Marcus Stroud (Jaguars), both Pro Bowl starters; David Pollack (Bengals); Charles Grant (Saints); and Johnathan Sullivan (Saints). He also coached draft picks DeAngelo Tyson (7th, Ravens, `12), Geno Atkins (4th, Bengals, '10), Corvey Irvin (3rd, Panthers, `09), Jarius Wynn (6th, Packers, '09), Kedric Golston (6th, Redskins, `06), Robert Geathers (4th, Bengals, '04), Emarlos Leroy (6th, Jaguars, `99), and free agents Ken Veal (Chargers, `04), Paul Snellings (Colts, 2000), Brandon Miller (Colts, 2000), Charles Johnson (Panthers, '07), Tyrone Robertson (Bills, 2000) and Demetric Evans (Cowboys, `01).

After his playing career at Auburn, Garner had a free agent tryout with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played with the Pittsburgh Gladiators arena football team in 1989. He began his coaching career at Auburn in 1990. Garner coached tight ends and offensive tackles at Tennessee in 1997 after coaching tight ends for the Volunteers in 1996.

Garner, whose cousin is Charles Barkley, was an outstanding high school player at Leeds High School receiving many national, state and local honors. He is married to Kimberly Lawson Garner, a 1988 Auburn graduate in public relations. They have six children: Bridgett, Brielle, Jaiden, Kai, Sydney and Milan.

Ellis Johnson
Defensive Coordinator

Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, one of the most respected defensive minds in college football who helped the Tigers to a 2013 SEC Championship and a BCS Championship berth last season, enters his second season at Auburn and is a 30-plus year coaching veteran who has 18 years of experience coaching in the Southeastern Conference.

In 2013, Auburn had the second biggest turnaround in college football history in NCAA records at +8.0 games.

Johnson's coaching career has included head coaching stops at Southern Miss (2012), The Citadel (2001-03) and Gardner-Webb (1983). Prior to his stop at Southern Miss, Johnson was at South Carolina for four years (2008-11), where he served as the Gamecocks' defensive coordinator while also holding the title of assistant head coach.

Along with his four years at South Carolina, Johnson has logged stints as the defensive coordinator at Appalachian State (1984), Southern Miss (1988-89), Clemson (1995-96), Alabama (1997-2000) and Mississippi State (2004-07).

He has coached in two national champioship games, five SEC Championship games, has been part of one national title, three SEC Championships and has placed numerous players on NFL rosters.

While defensive coordinator at South Carolina, Johnson also served as linebackers coach. In his final season with the Gamecocks, his defense ranked third nationally, allowing just 268 yards per game. Under Johnson, South Carolina finished in the Top 15 nationally in total defense three times.

In addition to the 2011 mark of No. 4 overall, the USC defense ranked No. 13 in scoring defense (18.8 points per game) and second in pass defense (133 yards per game).

A native of Winnsboro, S.C., Johnson logged two stints at Alabama. He was the defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach from 1997-2000, helping the Crimson Tide go 10-3 in 1999 with an SEC title and a spot in the Orange Bowl. His 1999 defense was No. 2 in the nation against the rush and No. 9 in total defense.

He served as the outside linebackers coach from 1990-93, helping Gene Stallings' teams go a combined 41-9, including an undefeated national championship year in 1992. Alabama's defense ranked No. 1 that season against the run and in total defense. The Tide ran off a 31-game winning streak and a 34-game unbeaten streak from 1991-93. The 1991 squad went 11-1. All four of those teams played in bowl games.

A 1975 graduate of The Citadel with a bachelor's degree in education, Johnson played defensive end for the Bulldogs. He began his career as the defensive ends coach at his alma mater under Bobby Ross in 1975 before working as an assistant coach at Gaffney (S.C.) High School from 1976-78 and as both an assistant and head coach at Spartanburg (S.C.) High School from 1979-81.

He is married to the former Caroline Courie, a Columbia, S.C., native and Clemson graduate. They have two sons, Eli and Charlie, and a daughter, Sandra Elliott.

Charlie Harbison
Co-Defensive Coordinator / Safeties Coach

An experienced coach and highly regarded recruiter who has spent the last 20 years coaching in the Southeastern and Atlantic Coast Conferences, Charlie Harbison, who helped the Tigers to a 2013 SEC Championship and a BCS Championship berth, enters his second season as co-defensive coordinator at Auburn, working daily with the AU safeties.

In 2013, Auburn had the second biggest turnaround in college football history in NCAA records at +8.0 games. Harbison coached junior Robenson Therezie, who was named an Associated Press honorable mention All-SEC selection at the star position.

Prior to coming to Auburn, Harbison spent the previous four seasons in a similar capacity at Clemson.Harbison and Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson worked together at Clemson (1995-96), Alabama (1998-2000) and at Mississippi State (2007).

Named one of nation's top-25 recruiters by Rivals in 2010, Harbison helped Clemson to back-to-back 10-win seasons, including the 2011 ACC Championship, the program's first in 20 years, and an Orange Bowl appearance. Harbison coached cornerback Coty Sensabaugh, who had 14 passes defended in 2011 and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans. His secondary was ranked in the top 26 in the nation in pass efficiency defense in 2009 and 2010, while coaching first-team All-America safety DeAndre McDaniel in 2009 and 2010. McDaniel led the ACC and was tied for third in the nation in interceptions (8) in 2009.

He helped Clemson to a top-25 ranking and the ACC Atlantic Division title in 2009. Clemson had 21 interceptions, fifth-most in Tiger history and tied for fifth-most in the nation. Clemson was seventh in the nation in passing defense. Prior to his tenure at Clemson, Harbison spent two seasons at Mississippi State (2007-08). After just one season, he was elevated to defensive coordinator, while also coaching safeties. The Bulldogs were seventh in the nation in pass defense and 20th in the nation in pass efficiency defense in 2007.

Harbison had a pair of coaching stints at Alabama from 1998-2000 and 2003-06. He coached the Crimson Tide wide receivers during his second stint, helping Alabama to a 26-24 overall record, including three bowl berths. During that four-year stretch, Harbison helped receivers D. J. Hall, Antonio Carter and Triandos Luke rank among the school's all-time top 10 pass-catchers. Two of Hall's single-season receiving totals were among the best ever at the school. Following the 2005 season, he was honored as one of the nation's top 25 college football recruiters by Rivals.com.

Harbison coached defensive backs in his initial stay from 1998-2000. He helped Alabama to the 1999 Southeastern Conference title and appearances in the 1998 Music City and 2000 Orange Bowls. Two of his pupils, Fernando Bryant (1999) and Tony Dixon (2001) were taken in the first and second rounds of the NFL Draft.

Between the Alabama assignments, Harbison coached the defensive backfield at LSU in 2001 and '02. He was a member of the Tiger coaching staff that won the 2001 SEC title, finished 18-8 overall and played in the 2002 Sugar and 2003 Cotton Bowls. Corey Webster, who played under Harbison his first two years in Baton Rouge, finished his career second on the school's all-time pass interception list.

Harbison served as the defensive backs coach at Clemson from 1995-97. The Tigers posted a 22-14 mark during those three years, ending those seasons in the Gator and back-to-back Peach Bowls. One of his pupils was nine-time Pro Bowl selection Brian Dawkins. He was an All-American and led the ACC in interceptions in Harbison's first year at Clemson (1995).

Harbison also coached the secondary at UTEP (1994) and served twice at his alma mater, Gardner-Webb, coaching wide receivers (1992-93) and defensive backs (1984-85). In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, he worked in both the Arena Football League and the World League of American Football. His pro football coaching resume includes serving as defensive coordinator for the Charlotte Rage (1993).

A native of Shelby, N.C., Harbison graduated from Gardner-Webb College with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1995. A two-sport star in football and track on the college level, he was a free-agent signee of the Buffalo Bills following his senior season.

He is married to the former Tammy McCluney, a retail merchandise and design graduate of Kinds College. The couple has four children, Charlie, Stedman, Masai and Msiba.
 

Melvin Smith
Cornerbacks Coach

Melvin Smith, who has nearly two decades of experience coaching in the Southeastern Conference and helped the Tigers to a 2013 SEC Championship and a BCS Championship berth last season, enters his second season as the cornerbacks coach at Auburn.

In 2013, Auburn had the second biggest turnaround in college football history in NCAA records at +8.0 games and in Smith's first season, the Tiger secondary made drastic improvements in production, recording 13 interceptions after the Tigers only had two the season prior.

Smith coached senior cornerback Chris Davis, an Associated Press All-SEC second-team selection, who will be selected in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Davis, who made one of the top plays in college football history in 2013, had the remarkable 109-yard missed field goal return for a touchdown with time expired in the 34-28 win over No. 1 Alabama, giving Auburn the Western Division Championship.

Prior to coming to Auburn, Smith spent the previous seven seasons coaching cornerbacks and the secondary at Mississippi State.

Smith, who coached cornerbacks for MSU since 2007 after coaching the entire secondary in 2006, mentored Jonathan Banks, who won the 2012 Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's top defensive back. Banks was also a Walter Camp All-American and a first-team All-SEC selection.

In 2012, Smith tutored a Bulldog defense that had 30 takeaways, which led the SEC and was 12th nationally. Darius Slay, a second-team All-SEC pick, tied for the league lead in interceptions with five, while Banks added four.

In 2009, Smith guided a young group that led the SEC with 17 interceptions. Led by then-freshman Corey Broomfield's six picks, the corners improved as the season progressed. For his efforts, Broomfield was named Freshman All-SEC. In 2011, Smith continued to tutor Broomfield and Banks, who developed into an All-SEC performer and was named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.

Smith returned to Mississippi State in 2006 after spending time at both Alabama and Texas A&M. In just his second season back at MSU, Smith helped the Bulldogs' pass defense rank fourth in the SEC, allowing just 182.2 yards per game, sixth in pass efficiency defense (114.8). The Bulldogs improved their interception total from 12 to 15.

A native of Taylorsville, Miss., who grew up in Magee, Miss., Smith was an assistant football coach at Mississippi State for seven years (1995-2001), helping guide the Bulldogs through the greatest period in the school's football history. In 2000, three of his four defensive backfield starters signed professional football contracts. That secondary intercepted 19 passes, the second-most in school history.

The 32-year coaching veteran came back to Mississippi State following three seasons at Texas A&M, where he coached the safeties. During his tenure in College Station, Smith helped the Aggies to a 7-4 regular season record in 2004 and a berth in the 2005 Cotton Bowl. Smith coached the safeties at Alabama in 2002, where the Crimson Tide team posted a 10-3 regular season record.

Smith has also coached on the collegiate level in Mississippi at Ole Miss (1992-94) and Delta State (1990-91). He began his coaching career on the high school level at Greenwood (Miss.) from 1982-89. By the time he became an assistant at Delta State in 1990, he'd joined the Army Reserves for a stint that would eventually last eight years.