Auburn's new defensive coordinator made his first public appearance in that capacity today as Kevin Steele took over the job. He spoke with the press for a little while this afternoon.
Some highlights:
I didn't realize he had so many prior connections to Auburn as a fan and otherwise. Said he wore #7 because of Pat Sullivan and saw his first college game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. I knew about his brother working in the athletic department, but I didn't know his daughter was an Auburn graduate. He definitely appears to be someone with a connection with and love for Auburn.
He wants to stay at Auburn for a long time, maybe even to the end of his career in coaching. Here's to hoping he and the staff are good enough to see that happening. I wouldn't complain one bit if we have the level of success that leads to that type of longevity.
He was coy with the staff decisions issue, which is unsurprising. Hopefully we'll hear in the next few days who will be hired as position coaches. I imagine it will be soon as the dead period ends next week, and the final official visits of the weekend begin the weekend after this one.
He speaks the coach-speak language of "we have what it takes to win championships," of course. I do like that he says a lot of his terminology is the same as Will Muschamp's. The exact defense may not be the same, but it sure would be nice if the defensive players didn't have to learn a whole lot of new language. They've had so many defensive coordinators of the last few years that it has to get confusing. That can be one issues surrounding defensive struggles.
And now to the Tweets!
Malzahn speaking first. "Very excited to introduce Steele. Looking for someone with SEC experience. A top recruiter in college football."
— Brian Stultz (@brianjstultz) January 5, 2016
"We got the right guy," says Gus Malzahn about new Auburn DC Kevin Steele. https://t.co/tSm7PKc3dM
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) January 5, 2016
Malzhan says he was looking for stability as well.
— Brian Stultz (@brianjstultz) January 5, 2016
Kevin Steele: "My daughter is quite excited, being an Auburn graduate. It's an exciting time to be here with coach." https://t.co/tSm7PKc3dM
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) January 5, 2016
Kevin Steele: "It was a very, very easy decision for me." https://t.co/Jnkf74rpRY
— James Crepea (@JamesCrepea) January 5, 2016
Steele: "Do everything we can to build a championship-type defense."
— Brian Stultz (@brianjstultz) January 5, 2016
Auburn DC Kevin Steele: Program has history of hard-nosed defenses, I understand that tradition
— WarEagleExtra (@wareagleextra) January 5, 2016
Kevin Steele said Coach Gus Malzahn being the person and leader he is was one of the reasons why he made the move to Auburn as DC
— Jason Caldwell (@ITATJason) January 5, 2016
Steele: "My dad bought me to my first college game in this stadium." Little note: David Housel played for Steele's dad in high school.
— Brian Stultz (@brianjstultz) January 5, 2016
Steele says there are a lot of things about Auburn that made the move work for him
— Jason Caldwell (@ITATJason) January 5, 2016
Steele: "It's not so much what you know as a coach, it is what the players can do and what they can execute."
— Brian Stultz (@brianjstultz) January 5, 2016
Steele: "You have to find the strengths and weaknesses of your players."
— Brian Stultz (@brianjstultz) January 5, 2016
Steele says you have to stop the run, be physical, and eliminate the big plays in the SEC
— Jason Caldwell (@ITATJason) January 5, 2016
Kevin Steele defers question about his defensive staff to Gus Malzahn. Steele says he has some input. https://t.co/tSm7PKc3dM
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) January 5, 2016
Steele says he'll have some input on the staff decisions, but defers to Gus Malzahn on those things moving forward. Nothing expected today
— Jason Caldwell (@ITATJason) January 5, 2016
New Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele says he's "been on the phone constantly" with Gus Malzahn since being hired
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) January 5, 2016
Steele says after things were finalized he went to Birmingham to meet with Malzahn. He adds he's spent a lot of times talking to recruits
— Jason Caldwell (@ITATJason) January 5, 2016
Steele "I didn't need a GPS to get to Auburn"
— Jason Caldwell (@ITATJason) January 5, 2016
Steele: "I watched LSU and then watched bowl game. Last couple of games, it was a total different defense than what started season."
— Brian Stultz (@brianjstultz) January 5, 2016
Auburn DC Kevin Steele: Recruiting isn't a hard thing to do, almost like a hobby, not difficult sending positive message about this program
— WarEagleExtra (@wareagleextra) January 5, 2016
Steele says AU def. "grew and matured and got better and better and better as the year went on." Stats say otherwise https://t.co/Jnkf74rpRY
— James Crepea (@JamesCrepea) January 5, 2016
Holy shade there, James. Dang.
Auburn DC Kevin Steele: Recruiting isn't a hard thing to do, almost like a hobby, not difficult sending positive message about this program
— WarEagleExtra (@wareagleextra) January 5, 2016
Kevin Steele says he wore No. 7 at Prattville Junior High because of Auburn quarterback Pat Sullivan
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) January 5, 2016
Steele: "I saw my first game here. It would be just fine with me if I coach my last game here." Says he doesn't know if he is 57 or 58....
— Brian Stultz (@brianjstultz) January 5, 2016
Kevin Steele on his longevity at Auburn. He repeats what wife told him: "We're going to Auburn and we're staying at Auburn."
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) January 5, 2016
Auburn's Kevin Steele on Will Muschamp: "We're good friends. We speak the same language in terms of terminology."
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) January 5, 2016
Auburn DC Kevin Steele: Not worried about coach Gus Malzahn's future, doesn't see any uncertainty
— WarEagleExtra (@wareagleextra) January 5, 2016
Steele: "I am very confident that from players all the way to head coach, we have the stuff that it takes to be champions."
— Brian Stultz (@brianjstultz) January 5, 2016
Be nice if Gus Malzahn got up at the podium and answered all these questions Kevin Steele is deferring to his new boss.
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) January 5, 2016
Auburn formally introduced new DC Kevin Steele and Gus Malzahn still hasn't taken a reporter's question on him. He loves us
— John Zenor (@jzenor) January 5, 2016
Ah yes, the displeasure of the beat writers with how close Gus Malzahn keeps everything.
Auburn DC Kevin Steele: "I'm not really ready...I've been here three days" to talk about specific players, "we have time for that"
— WarEagleExtra (@wareagleextra) January 5, 2016