Former Auburn offensive standout Kodi Burns returned to his alma mater for the 2016 season as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.

In 2017, Auburn became just the eighth team in SEC history to rush and pass for 3,000 yards in a season, and set an Auburn record scoring 327 points in SEC play, winning the SEC West and playing in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Junior Ryan Davis set an Auburn record with 84 receptions, ranking second in the SEC and 20th nationally in catches per game.

In 2016, 13 different Auburn receivers caught a pass of at least 20 yards, and the Tigers ranked fourth in school history in total offensive yards (5,730).

Burns has already been part of two Auburn BCS National Championship appearances. As a senior wide-out in 2010, he helped the Tigers to a perfect season and the BCS National Championship, scoring the opening touchdown on a 35-yard pass reception in the Tigers’ BCS win over Oregon. Burns served as a graduate assistant for offense in 2013, helping Auburn win another SEC Championship and an appearance in the 2014 BCS National Championship game.

Burns, who played at Auburn from 2007-10, came back to his alma mater from Arizona State, where he had been named the running backs coach after the 2015 season. In 2015, Burns served as wide receivers coach at Middle Tennessee State, where he mentored Richie James and Ed Battlies. James led Conference USA with 108 receptions and his 1,346 receiving yards were third in the conference. Battlies’ 82 receptions and 1,048 receiving yards ranked fourth and fifth respectively in Conference USA.

Burns was the running backs coach at Samford University in 2014. Under Burns’ guidance, Bulldog ballcarrier Denzel Williams tallied more than 1,000 all-purpose yards, including 918 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, earning all-Southern Conference honors.

In 2013, Burns worked with Auburn’s offense as a graduate assistant, as the Tigers led the nation in rushing (328.3 yds/game), and ranked 11th in total offense (501.3 yds/game) and 12th in scoring offense (39.5 pts/game). Running back Tre Mason was a Heisman Trophy finalist and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year; he set Auburn single-season records with 2,374 all-purpose yards and 1,816 rushing yards.

Burns began his coaching career in 2012 as a graduate assistant at Arkansas State under Gus Malzahn. The Red Wolves won the Sun Belt Conference with a 10-3 record and Burns helped an offense that included a 3,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard receiver and a 1,000-yard rusher.

From 2007-10, Burns earned four varsity letters at Auburn, excelling in a variety of roles. He was a quarterback his first two seasons at Auburn; in 2007, he became the first Auburn true freshman quarterback to start a game since Gabe Gross in 1998. He moved to wide receiver for the second half of his career, collecting nearly 2,300 total yards and 22 career touchdowns.

A native of Fort Smith, Ark., Burns earned his bachelor’s degree from Auburn in exercise science in 2011.