Jan. 28, 2005
OXFORD, Ohio -- Miami head football coach Shane Montgomery has announced another addition to his coaching staff, hiring former graduate assistant Craig Aukerman to direct the RedHawks' linebacking corps. Aukerman, who served as the defensive graduate assistant at Miami during the 2001 and 2002 campaigns, has spent the past two seasons at Western Kentucky.
"We're excited to have Craig back with the program," Montgomery said. "He was a real asset to us as a graduate assistant, and, with the added experience he has gained working with the linebackers at Western Kentucky, we feel like he is an excellent fit, not only within our staff, but as our linebacker coach. He's a talented, young coach who will further energize one of our most talented position groups."
Aukerman is the fifth coach retained or hired by Montgomery who had prior experience with Miami's football program as a graduate assistant, joining strength coach Dan Dalrymple, wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator Brian Von Bergen, offensive line coach Matt Hohman and defensive backs coach Tim Cooper. A 1999 graduate of Findlay, Aukerman will be working under the direction of newly-hired defensive coordinator Taver Johnson, who was the linebacker coach during Aukerman's graduate assistant stint at Miami.
Over the past two seasons, Aukerman has served in several capacities at NCAA I-AA power Western Kentucky, coaching the outside linebackers in 2003 and serving as inside linebacker coach and special teams coordinator this past season. Last season, Aukerman coached a pair of first-team all-Gateway Conference linebackers and an all-league punter for the Hilltoppers, who finished the season ranked No. 11 nationally. His linebackers helped fuel a defense that ranked third in the conference in both scoring defense (18.9 ppg) and rushing defense (130.4). In 2003, the seventh-ranked Hilltoppers led the conference in both scoring defense (16.2 ppg) and total defense (287.7 ypg), while allowing a national-low three touchdown passes on the year. Two of Aukerman's linebackers ranked among the nation's top 25 in quarterback sacks.
In his previous assignment at Miami, Aukerman was responsible for assisting with the defensive backs while also breaking down the opposition's offenses on a weekly basis and directing the offensive scout team. Aukerman came to Miami from his alma mater Findlay, where he was twice an NAIA All-American for the two-time national champions. A four-year letterwinner (1995-98), Aukerman competed as a defensive back, wide receiver and special teams contributor. After earning his bachelor's degree in 1999, Aukerman stayed on with Findlay as the wide receivers coach for the 2000 season.
With the latest hiring, Montgomery has now retained or hired eight coaches since his hiring on Dec. 28, 2004, and has two positions left to fill.
