Crain to coach linebackers at South Alabama

By Mike Szvetitz
Sports Editor, Opelika-Auburn News
Published: June 30, 2008

Kurt Crain is back where he says he belongs — coaching college football.

The former Auburn University All-American linebacker will officially be introduced Tuesday as the linebackers coach at South
Alabama.

“I think the good Lord put me on this earth to coach,” he said Monday night. “I’m a college guy. I love the atmosphere and the recruiting.

“For me, the No. 1 thing (in taking the job) was it was an opportunity to get back into the college game. And working for a guy like Joey Jones and the staff that he’s assembled was something I didn’t want to pass up.”

Crain, who played at Auburn from 1986-87 and was drafted in the sixth round by the Houston Oilers in the 1988 NFL draft, will hit the ground running, trying to build the school’s first recruiting class. The Jaguars’ first team will hit the field in 2009, and will be added to the Football Bowl Subdivision by 2013.

“We’re really in a good situation,” said Crain, who lives in Opelika, about attracting recruits. “The city of Mobile is great, we’re building a new $10 million football facility and kids will get playing time.

“The freshman class we’re going to sign this year and next ... they’re going to play for us. That’s a big selling point for these kids, because they want to play.”

Crain was most recently hired to as the defensive coordinator for the Birmingham-based team of the All-American Football League, which was supposed to kick off its inaugural season this year. In March, the AAFL postponed its opening until 2009.

For Crain, who also coached at Troy, TCU and Auburn in his career, when one door closed, another one opened.

He will join what he calls a “proven” staff at South Alabama, led by Jones, who spent two years at Birmingham Southern, where he rebuilt that football program.

Les Koenning will coach quarterbacks along with being the Jags’ offensive coordinator. Former Prattville High head coach Bill Clark will run the defense.

John Turner, who coached offensive line and special teams at Auburn under Terry Bowden in 1997, will coach the offensive line at USA.

Former Auburn University quarterback Dameyune Craig will coach the running backs, Duwan Walker will coach defensive backs and Brian Turner will be the Jaguars’ recruiting coordinator.

“It’s a staff that is going to make South Alabama and the people of Mobile proud,” Crain said.

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