Auburn hires Melvin Smith as cornerbacks coach

Published Dec. 25, 2012 6:27 p.m. ET

foxsports

Auburn has hired longtime Southeastern Conference assistant Melvin Smith as cornerbacks coach.

Gus Malzahn announced the hiring Tuesday of Smith, who spent the past seven seasons coaching cornerbacks and the secondary at Mississippi State.

Malzahn says Smith ''is an outstanding secondary coach and is one of the top recruiters in the Southeastern Conference.''

Smith has spent 18 of his 31 years in coaching working at SEC schools. He coached Johnthan Banks, the 2012 Jim Thorpe Award winner.

The Bulldogs' defense led the SEC with 30 forced turnovers this season.

Smith has worked previously with co-defensive coordinators Ellis Johnson and Charlie Harbison and offensive line coach J.B. Grimes.

Smith's college coaching stops have included Texas A&M, Alabama, Mississippi and Delta State.