Luper on board as new RB coach

AUBURN – Oklahoma State running backs Curtis Luper coach will join the Auburn coaching staff in the same capacity. Luper, who was stationed at Fort McClellan when he served in the Army, worked with Auburn coach Gene Chizik at Stephen F. Austin from 1995-97.
“The opportunity to reconnect with my mentor in Coach Chizik and have the chance coach at a program known as ‘Running Back U.’, was something that I could not pass up,” said Luper, who served as a secondary coach at Stephen F. Austin. “My coaching philosophy and foundation was established with Coach Chizik 13 years ago at Stephen F. Austin, where we took our initial jobs, and arm in arm helped the program to the national semifinals.
“I’m excited to be reunited with Coach Chizik and join Gus Malzahn, who is nationally known as one of the innovators offensively. Those aspects combined with the chance to coach at a tradition-rich program like Auburn, is a dream come true.”Luper served on the Oklahoma State coaching staff for four years.Currently, Gus Malzahn is the only offensive coach on Auburn’s staff. Malzahn will coach quarterbacks, meaning the running backs coach position remains available.Under Luper, the Cowboys rushed for 3,191 yards in 2008, helping them finish seventh in the nation. Tailback Kendall Hunter rushed for 1,555 yards and 16 touchdowns during the season.
Luper has also coached at New Mexico, Stephen F. Austin and Texas A&M-Commerce.
“Curtis Luper is a tremendous coach, who I’ve had the pleasure of watching blossom from a player to the successful individual that he is today,” Chizik said. “I had a great amount of respect for him as a player and while mentoring him in the beginning of his coaching career. Curtis has done an outstanding job coaching running backs and I am excited to coach with him again.”