Fan favorite Kodi Burns making moves off, on the field

Photo credit: AP

AUBURN — Kodi Burns has been in big spots before. The former Auburn quarterback turned wide receiver caught a touchdown pass in the 2010 BCS National Championship game, he presented President Barack Obama with an Auburn jersey when the team went to the White House, he started under center as a true freshmen for the Tigers, so would the fan favorite be nervous in a big moment in his personal life when he recently got engaged? No chance.

“Everybody asked me if I was nervous and I told them I was like ‘look guys I’ve been in pretty big moments. It’s not that big a deal,’” said Burns of asking his girlfriend of four years, Keista Hough, to marry him on Feb. 16. “Amazing girl, beautiful girl and I love her to death. Situation’s right – she’s an Auburn girl, Auburn grad, likewise with myself so (I) pulled the trigger.”

Burns, a tenacious cool customer, first saw Hough on campus at the Haley Center and later approached her in downtown Auburn. After more than two months of Hough ignoring his advances, she gave in and Burns knew their lives had changed.

“I tell her to this day, I said ‘I knew once I talked to you it was over with. It was a done deal. You didn’t have a choice,’” he said.

Burns’ professional life also had some big changes recently as he accepted a position to be a grad assistant on coach Gus Malzahn’s staff. He served in a similar role under Malzahn and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee at Arkansas State last season, making the transition back to the Plains a “smooth transition” to what Burns called his “second home.”

“I’m from Arkansas, but going to school, graduating here, being part of the football team – it’s a great family,” he said. “It’ll always be family to me, so it’s amazing to be back.”

After working in medical sales for a year, Burns knew he wanted to get into coaching and Malzahn presented him with both of his opportunities to date.

“I always have wanted to coach. I didn’t know if I was going to get into it,” Burns said. “I didn’t know coach Malzahn was going to get a head job so quick. I knew he had potential and once it happened, he called me up, and I couldn’t pass on the opportunity. It was an amazing opportunity, and I wanted to get it done.”

Burns said his relationship with the first-year Tigers coach is no different now than when he was a player; the trust he earned based on his performances on the field now shifting over as a member of the staff.

“(Malzahn) knows when he needed me to block on 4th-and-1, I did it. He knows that when he called my number to catch a pass, I did it. I think the same thing carries over to coaching,” Burns said. “Whenever he needs anything, he needs me to teach somebody something or help somebody with something, I’m always there.”

Burns will perform a lot of recruiting duties in his role and having gone through many of the same things only a few years ago, his experience and Auburn connection will be invaluable. To be in a support role with a staff which features fellow Auburn grads Dameyune Craig and Rodney Garner is also a great fit for Burns, who has long-term aspirations of running his own program one day.

“I think that long-term goals are the same as anybody’s: you want to do this, and you want to move up,” he said. “I want to be an offensive coordinator one of these days here pretty quick, and soon after be a head coach. You want to run your own program. You have that edge to be great.”

For now, Burns will continue to learn and grow in a support role at the school he and his now fiancé call home.

“The memories really never left,” he said. “Being in a place like this for five years, it becomes your family. The team has become your brothers. I woke up every morning, I sweat, bled, tears, on that field every single day.

“So I am Auburn. It’s in me.”