A familiar face is appearing in Auburn as part of Bryan Harsin’s inaugural team.
Cadillac Williams will remain as Auburn’s running back trainer, the program announced Friday night. Williams is the first team assistant to former coach Gus Malzahn to be officially hired by Harsin, who was hired last month to take over the program.
“I’m looking forward to having a Cadillac on our team,” said Harsin. “After several conversations, it was easy to see how much passion he has and his desire to learn, grow and develop in the coaching profession. Just by spending time with him you see why he is Auburn’s definitive football ambassador, and that goes beyond being just an elite player, but an elite person. “
Williams has spent the past two seasons as Auburn’s running back coach, joining his alma mater after the 2018 season. Last year, he helped prepare the SEC’s Co-Freshman of the Year, Tank Bigsby, who ran for 834 yards and five touchdowns, emerging like a rising star in the SEC.
A former Auburn running back, Williams starred in the 2001-04 Auburn, running for 3,831 yards and 45 touchdowns during his college career. He set Auburn’s record for race attempts in his career, passing Joe Cribbs, and in most touchdowns, passing Bo Jackson, finishing second in total running yards and multipurpose yards. He remains number 2 on Auburn’s career race list.
“Auburn is a special place for me and I am grateful for this opportunity to be part of the team of Coach Harsin and coach of the school that made me the person I am today,” said Williams. “I enjoyed talking about football with Coach Harsin and I can’t wait to be part of something special.”
Williams’ retention leaves at least one familiar face on the Auburn team in 2021, although the third-year assistant has work to do in his running back room, with Tigers reduced to just two stock market players in position after the previous news Friday, that sophomore DJ Williams entered the transfer portal. Williams is the third running back to leave the program since the start of the 2020 season, joining Harold Joiner and Mark-Antony Richards.
Tom Green is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.