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Meet AU 2021 Analysts, Grad Assistants


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Meet Auburn's 2021 analysts, grad assistants

ByNATHAN KING 52 minutes ago 
 
 
 

Bryan Harsin's 2021 support staff of personnel directors, recruiting specialists, graduate assistants and analysts may be Auburn's most impressive lineup in that department in recent years.

With Harsin's first spring practices on the Plains two weeks away, it appears the Tigers' new head man has finalized his support staff that will help to maintain the success of the program, both on and off the field, with a number of different roles.

There are a few retentions from Gus Malzahn's staff in 2020, but Harsin mostly went out and plucked some new faces from across the sport with ties to him and some of his new assistant coaches.

 

Some positions, such as chief of staff Brad Larrondo and recruiting director Darren Uscher, were officially announced by the program. Others  like former Boise State offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau, who will come to Auburn as an offensive analyst — were not officially added to the team's staff directory until this week.

With the update, here's who is part of Harsin's support staff for the 2021 season, with most already in Auburn working to prepare for spring ball. We'll update this list if or when any other names are added.

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ERIC KIESAU, ANALYST (OFFENSE)

 

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Harsin's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Boise State last season, Kiesau was not retained under new Broncos head coach Andy Avalosand will spend the 2021 season on Auburn's support staff.

Kiesau also has experience as the offensive coordinator at Fresno State (2016), Colorado (2009-10) and Washington (2012-13), and an assistant at Boise State (wide receivers), Utah State, Cal and Kansas. He spent the 2015 season as an offensive analyst under Nick Saban at Alabama.

The 48-year-old is one of the most experienced staffers in the Auburn program this season, and he will be the "senior analyst" of the support staff, according to the official directory.

BODIE REEDER, ANALYST (OFFENSE)

 

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Reeder was a Mountain West offensive coordinator and QBs coach just this past season at Utah State. After his offense finished 120th nationally in passing, Reeder was fired.

Reeder worked under Mike Gundy as an offensive quality control staffer at Oklahoma State from 2014-16 before being hired at Eastern Washington as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. 

Before his one season with Utah State, Reeder spent a year at North Texas as offensive coordinator and QBs coach, as well. UNT quarterback Mason Fine ranked in the top 25 nationally in passing yards and top 20 in touchdown passes.

KENDALL SIMMONS, ANALYST (OFFENSE)

 

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A carryover from the Malzahn era, Simmons was brought on as an offensive analyst shortly after the conclusion of the 2018 season. 

A former All-American offensive lineman at Auburn, Simmons was a first-round pick in 2022 and played eight seasons in the NFL, winning a pair of Super Bowls with the Steelers. 

BRYCE LEWIS, ANALYST (DEFENSE)

 

10280849.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: Jamie Gilliam, Getty)

A former defensive back under Auburn defensive coordinator Derek Masonduring his time at Vanderbilt, Lewis will put an emphasis on Auburn's DBs as an analyst. He played in the secondary for Mason from 2015-17 before spending two seasons at Vanderbilt as a graduate assistant, working with the secondary, and one as a quality control staffer.

BEN STEELE, ANALYST (SPECIAL TEAMS)

 

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Steele was the Atlanta Falcons' tight ends coach last season and boasts eight years of experience on NFL staffs, also serving as tight ends coach for the Buccaneers from 2017-18.

Steele played six years in the NFL, mostly as a practice-squad player.

JEFF MCDANIELS, GRAD ASSISTANT (OFFENSE)

 

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McDaniels will bring plenty of coaching experience to Auburn's offensive staff meetings this season.

A 2014 graduate of Davidson after four-year career as a wide receiver, McDaniels spent two seasons at Texas State as a grad assistant before returning to his alma mater as cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator.

Harsin plucked McDaniels as a grad assistant at Boise State prior to the 2020 season.

PATRICK KUGLER, GRAD ASSISTANT (OFFENSE)

 

Title/Alt Text (Photo: Isaiah Hole, 247Sports)

An offensive guard and center at Michigan from 2015-17, Kugler comes to Auburn after taking grad assistant roles at his alma mater under Jim Harbaugh and at San Diego State.

Kugler's father, Sean Kugler, is a longtime NFL assistant and formerly the head coach at UTEP. He was Boise State's offensive line coach in 2006, when Harsin was the Broncos' offensive coordinator.

BRENT JACKSON, GRAD ASSISTANT (DEFENSE)

 

10280901.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: @DBcoachjackson on Twitter)

A former defensive back at Louisiana, Jackson worked at his alma mater as both a defensive analyst and quality control assistant. He spent the past two seasons on Lovie Smith's support staff at Illinois as an analyst.

DANNY MCDONALD, QUALITY CONTROL (DEFENSE)

 

10280905.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: @Coach_McDonald on Twitter)

McDonald will follow former Boise State defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding to Auburn and work with Schmedding in the Tigers' linebackers room. He spent just one season at Boise State, with the title of "defensive assistant."

After graduating from Washington State, head coach Mike Leach invited McDonald to stick around as a grad assistant working with wide receivers. In 2015, McDonald was the wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator at East Los Angeles College before spending two years as an off-field assistant at West Texas A&M. 

Before arriving at Boise State, he worked quality control at Eastern Washington from 2018-19, crossing over with Reeder during the Eagles' run to the FCS title game in 2018.

TANNER TALLAN, QUALITY CONTROL (SPECIAL TEAMS)

 

10280913.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: @Tanner__T on Twitter)

Tallan worked his way up the ranks on Harsin's off-field Boise State staffs.

He began as a volunteer equipment manager as a freshman at Boise State in 2013. By the time he completed undergrad, Tallan had also held the roles of recruiting intern and student assistant coach, working with running backs. Harsin then gave Tallan a grad assistant position for two years before Tallan worked with quality control in 2020.

BRAD LARRONDO, CHIEF OF STAFF/ASSOCIATE AD

 

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After 27 years in Boise State's athletic department, Larrondo was one of a handful of staffers to follow Harsin from Idaho to Alabama. He's essentially the head coach's right-hand man.

"This program is getting a tremendous person of high character in Brad who values real connection, extreme follow through and the overall student-athlete and staff experience," Harsin said when Larrondo was hired. "His position is vitally important to the championship program we are creating day by day here at Auburn."

Larrondo is both a liaison for Harsin and the football program at large, and a leader for the program's community outreach and fundraising. A Boise State grad, Larrondo spent his entire career at his alma mater before coming to Auburn. He was considered a candidate for the Broncos' athletic director opening, which was ultimately filled by Baylor's Jeramiah Dickey.

DARREN USCHER, DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING

 

10280816.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: Auburn Athletics)

Another former Boise State staffer (in the same role), Uscher also has experience in recruiting departments at Georgetown and South Carolina.

"In his role, Uscher will oversee all areas of recruiting, player personnel and roster management within the Auburn football program," per the program's official release on Uscher's hiring last month. "He'll also work closely with the football on-campus recruiting department, as well as the Auburn athletics compliance department and staff compliance education."

OTHER AUBURN SUPPORT STAFFERS LISTED ON DIRECTORY

• Jorrell Bostrom, director of player development

• Kenneth Carter, assistant director of player development

• Josh Thompson, director of football operations

• Brandon Pringle, associate strength and conditioning coach

• Anthony Lazard, assistant strength and conditioning coach

• Dennis Love, assistant strength and conditioning coach

• Akeem Robinson, assistant strength and conditioning coach

• Ryan Trichel, director of recruiting operations

• Natasha Sanders, director of on-campus recruiting

• Sierra Griffin, assistant coordinator of on-campus recruiting

4COMMENTS

• Shanelle Valentine, assistant coordinator of on-campus recruiting

• Clesi Crochet, assistant to the head coach and football operations

• Ross Newton, director of high school relations

• Blake Penter, assistant director of player personnel

• Lauren Silvio, director of sports nutrition

• Bo Larkin, director of football technology

• Olivia Ramirez, assistant director of creative

• Lewie Thompson, assistant video coordinator

• Todd Van Emst, photographer

• Shanna Lockwood, photographer

• Joyce Boles, administrative support associate

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I don’t remember ever being so fired up about a staff of analysts. Seems like a bunch of very knowledgeable guys here. 

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31 minutes ago, W.E.D said:

How does the size compare to the prior staff? 

2xl compared to child (sm)

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Was Jorrel Bostrom once on the team many moons ago? Was he Bo's nephew or cousin or something like that? The name sounds familiar. 

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Looks like a pretty dang good support staff. I will say I'm a little surprised at the amount of Gus holdovers though, especially for roles such as player development, personnel, etc. I'm not saying the holdovers did a bad job, as Harsin must see something in them to retain them. Just surprised he wouldn't want to bring in his own people. I'm sure theres a chance theirs more movement before it's all said and done.

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3 hours ago, bigbird said:

Best off field staff at Auburn that I can remember.

Yes. I think this is a heck of a staff off field and on. Harsin is building a giant.

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17 minutes ago, AUTigerTime said:

I know a team is limited to a certain number of "coaches", but how are all these analysts restricted from what coaches can do?

Can't recruit. There are supposed to be restrictions on their coaching too, I think.  Coaching at practice. Believe they aren't supposed to be on the field or have a head set on. Something like that. 

 

Probably isn't enforced

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AUsome support staff!!!  I really like what CBH is doing so far!

Bro. Chette isn’t listed here because he is actually employed by FCA, not AU.  I’m curious how his role may be similar/different under CBH.  

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45 minutes ago, AUpreacherman22 said:

AUsome support staff!!!  I really like what CBH is doing so far!

Bro. Chette isn’t listed here because he is actually employed by FCA, not AU.  I’m curious how his role may be similar/different under CBH.  

I’m curious about that too.

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Love seeing all that OC experience on the support staff. That has to help a ton when it comes to breaking down film and game planning for the opponent. 

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11 hours ago, TigerHorn said:

Was Jorrel Bostrom once on the team many moons ago? Was he Bo's nephew or cousin or something like that? The name sounds familiar. 

Not sure if he’s related to Bo— I believe he’s from Idaho. But he was on the 2010 team. I think he was a JUCO transfer.

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11 hours ago, W.E.D said:

Can't recruit. There are supposed to be restrictions on their coaching too, I think.  Coaching at practice. Believe they aren't supposed to be on the field or have a head set on. Something like that. 

 

Probably isn't enforced

DOn't think they are restricted by any number, just what poster said above. Can watch film, give input in meetings, relay notes to coaches during game, but no practice or game day field coaching or input allowed.

It would be interesting to see what the current size of all football staff is compared to Gus' staff.

I hear another analyst, well known, may be coming too. Cooper Petagna? Huge get if it happens. Really good when with Washington and Oregon...

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1 hour ago, augolf1716 said:

Size doesn't matter or at least that's what I hear

Only said by those lacking size. 😝 

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2 hours ago, steeleagle said:

It would be interesting to see what the current size of all football staff is compared to Gus' staff.

 

Apparently no one knows.

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