Craig hired to coach wide outs

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn made a second addition to his coaching staff Thursday, hiring former Auburn quarterback and current Florida State quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator Dameyune Craig to be co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.

“This is a great opportunity for me and my family to come back home to Auburn,” Craig said in a statement. “I have a tremendous amount of confidence in coach Malzahn and the staff he has assembled and I look forward to getting Auburn back to being a force in college football. Auburn speaks for itself and I’m excited to returning to a place that holds a special place in my heart.”

The addition of Craig, who played QB on the Plains from 1994-97 and still holds numerous Auburn passing records including completions (216) and passing yards (3,227) in a season as well as a single-game record for most net yards gained (445 vs. Army in 1996), came six hours after the hiring of Rich Bisaccia to be the special teams coach and running backs coach and assistant head coach. Terms of Craig’s contract were not released.

Having stated his desire to complete his coaching staff by Jan. 4, there is just one vacancy remaining on Malzahn’s staff as Craig and Bisaccia join offensive line coach J.B. Grimes and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee on the offensive staff. The last coaching vacancy is presumably at tight ends.

“We’re extremely excited to welcome Dameyune back to Auburn,” Malzahn said in a statement. “Dameyune is one of the top young coaches in college football and has established himself as one of the best recruiters in the country. He is very passionate about his alma mater and will be a valuable asset to the Auburn football program and the entire Auburn family.”

Craig becomes the second Auburn alum on the staff, joining defensive line coach, recruiting coordinator and assistant head coach Rodney Garner.

Named one of the top 25 recruiters in the country by Rivals and one of the top 50 recruiters by 247Sports, Craig helped Florida State produce the No. 1 and No. 2 recruiting classes the past two seasons. He was recognized as the 2012 Scout/FoxSportsNext ACC Recruiter of the Year and the Rivals.com ACC Recruiter of the Year.

While with the Seminoles, Craig helped coach quarterbacks EJ Manuel and Christian Ponder.

Manuel finished his FSU career as the school career completion percentage leader (66.9 percent) and is in the school’s top five all-time in passing yards and total offense. He threw for 3,392 yards and 23 touchdowns while completing 68 percent of his passes this season, including 26-for-38 for 291 yards with a touchdown and six carries for 26 yards with a touchdown in FSU’s 31-10 win over Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl on Tuesday.

Prior to his time in Tallahassee, Craig spent two years at Southern Alabama coaching wide receivers as well as stops at Tuskegee (2006-07), the Miami Dolphins (2005) and LSU (2004).

After his collegiate career at Auburn, Craig signed as a free agent quarterback with the Carolina Panthers and appeared in six games over a four-year stretch.