Auburn Tigers special teams coordinator Tanner Burns is reportedly heading to Texas State to take on a more expansive role, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Burns will serve as the associate head coach, special teams coordinator, and defensive assistant for the Bobcats, embracing a broader set of responsibilities in his new position.
The move comes just days after Burns had been promoted at Auburn. In addition to his special teams coordinator duties, he was set to join the Tigers’ defensive room to work with the secondary. Now, Auburn will need to fill those roles, though the re-hiring of Roc Bellantoni earlier this week as edge coach eases some of the staffing challenges.
Burns has been with Auburn for the past two seasons and shares a long-standing professional connection with head coach Hugh Freeze, having previously worked with him at Liberty. Under Burns’ guidance, Auburn excelled in special teams performance, ranking ninth nationally in punt return defense this past season.
At Texas State, Burns joins a program that is beginning to find success at the FBS level. After eight consecutive losing seasons, the Bobcats have achieved back-to-back 8-5 campaigns. Both seasons concluded with First Responder Bowl victories, marking significant progress since their move to FBS in 2012. These seasons represent two of only three winning records for the Bobcats since their transition.
The Bobcats’ improvement is notable, but there is still room to grow. Four of their losses last season were by a single possession, including a 31-28 defeat to Arizona State, which went on to win the Big 12 and earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. Burns will aim to help the team refine key areas to turn narrow defeats into victories and propel Texas State to further success.
