Auburn officially names Charlie Harbison co-DC/DB coach

Auburn officially announced the hiring of Clemson co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Charlie Harbison to the same position on Sunday. Harbison, 53, reunites with defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson and be his “right-hand man”; the duo worked together at Alabama (2000) and Mississippi State (2007).

“Charlie is an outstanding coach and recruiter and we’re excited to have him join our staff,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said in a statement. “He’s very familiar with Coach Ellis Johnson, having coached together on two different staffs, which will be a tremendous asset to our defense. He is a true professional and one of the class guys in college coaching.”

Harbison was named one of nation’s top 25 recruiters by Rivals in 2010 and helped Clemson to back-to-back 10-win seasons, including the 2011 ACC Championship. He has spent the past four seasons at Clemson, also serving as defensive backs coach from 1995-97.

“I’m looking forward to joining coach Gus Malzahn’s staff at Auburn,” Harbison said in a statement. “Having coached against Auburn on several occasions, I’m very familiar with the great success and tradition associated with the program. This is a tremendous opportunity for me and my family.”

At Mississippi State, where Harbison was defensive coordinator and safeties coach, the Bulldogs were seventh in the nation in pass defense and 20th in the nation in pass efficiency defense in 2007.

Harbison is the third assistant coach hired under Gus Malzahn after Johnson and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee.