Auburn Football 2012: Willie Martinez Considering Job at Auburn

In a move that is a shock to absolutely no one, Auburn has contacted Willie Martinez to fill an open position on the Auburn staff. He has worked with Brian VanGorder, the new defensive coordinator at Auburn, for eight years at three different stops. If this hire goes through, it would have to be considered another home run hire for Auburn.

Martinez has helped send numerous defensive backs to the NFL, sending 14 over the last decade alone. He is a very respected and known commodity as a defensive backs coach across the nation. He coached in the SEC from 2001 to 2009 at Georgia.

If VanGorder and Martinez are reunited at Auburn, it would be their fourth time on the same coaching staff in their careers. One would assume it gives Auburn a possible advantage over rival Georgia, as these two men combined to coach for Mark Richt a total of 13 seasons.

Georgia had the seventh-highest winning percentage in college football from 2001 to 2009 when these two men were in charge of the Georgia defense. They have dropped to No. 41 nationally since the departure of Martinez after the 2009 season.

If this hire occurs, it gives Auburn two exceptionally gifted defensive play-callers on a staff that could be considered the most experienced defensive staff in the SEC for 2012. 

This news is being reported by several media outlets, and it appears momentum is picking up for this hire.