Harsin press conference summary

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** Latest addition to staff is Bert Watts, coach OLB and be special teams coordinator. Admired his work competing against him at Fresno State. Good recruiter, great fit after speaking with him.

Want players and coaches that want to be a part of Auburn football.

Have focused on the culture and meeting with players first month. Also focused on recruiting and getting plan together with strength staff. That starts next week.

New strength coach is a great developer and foundation of program.

Known Mike Bobo for a while. He was at UGA when Harsin was at Texas. Have similar philosophy at QB and offense.

Derek Mason has high energy, great personality, great coach. Spent a couple of vacations together over last few years. Excited about his leadership.

Will Friend is huge to get our OL developed. Will help them establish an identity.

Zac Etheridge was recommended by Holgerson. Has a tremendous reputation as a recruiter and as a person. Understands what it takes to win championships. Introduced coaches to players: was able to communicate to them what it means to be an Auburn Tiger. Hair on the back of my neck stood up when he spoke. He has so much passion for this program.

Cadillac Williams was tremendous talking about Auburn and this offense and where he wants to go in his career. Just excited to be a part of something new. Joy to work with.

Schmedding is one of the best coaches I've been around. Know the defense back to front. Has great detail and knowledge of game. Building relationships with players.

Bedell understands the fronts and everything we need to do to be great. Understands the physicality needed and being able to do multiple things. Very detailed in recruiting, great connector.

Rocker was a great player at Auburn, enjoyed getting to know him. He connects with players, prefect fit on this staff.

C WIlliams is a good young coach. Understands Auburn and has a lot if energy. Has jumped in with both feet. Been great in meetings and around players.

Have a few more positions to fill in support staff and start building towards the scheme and culture we want to build.

Beginning spring practice in mid March. Have to finish recruiting. Have to install culture and offense/defense with players.

Past experiences of building staffs has taught him about choosing the right people for the program that fit within goal and vision for program. That takes time. You want to make sure you get to know people and what makes Auburn special.

He's been getting up about 5:30 a.m. and getting home about 11 p.m. over the last month trying to build staff and get to know players and the people here. Still a lot of connections to make.

Have to be very multiple on defense. Coach Mason has started by reviewing what we have here at Auburn first. Wants to build the defense around players. Been impressed watching him and his staff working together. **

Have made a lot of connections in recruiting, building relationships. This will be first opportunity for us to sign players in two weeks, but recruiting will go on through the spring. The goal is to sign the right players, right fit.

Mike Bobo will call plays. Harsin will help install and be there for the DNA of what we're going to be on offense, the scheme. There will be a spring, summer and fall camp progression to installing the offense. Harsin joked that he'll call all the touchdown plays and Bobo calls the rest.

Have to identify needs before looking at portal. Have to research guys as far as their playing ability and what type of kids they are. Still some rules not finalized with portal so there are gray areas. Coaches have a lot more options, another layer of players you can go and sign.

As a Boise State alum, I know the pride I took as a player and coach there. There's no question that Zac and Rocker and Cadillac have that same pride in Auburn. That's important having spent 22 years at a school I played at. Appreciate any guys that have been a part of this program.

Was impressed with C Williams' focus during interviews along with his coaching details. He brings a different style offense, brings knowledge in different areas.

There will be some spots they hold for transfers. Needs: OL, RB, CB, S, DB, LB, DL -- all areas of needs. Have to look at what players are coming back from injuries, etc.

It was purposeful hiring staff with SEC experience, helps him and helps whole staff. Everyone on this staff wants to be the best. They're all competitive.

Workouts are foundation of program. Can have a great plan, but have to have a work ethic behind it and bring it every single day. First message is to be there on time, have to execute plan everyday. Players will have tasks to do every day -- academics, workouts, football. Want to win that day, every day. That's coaches and players. Build your physicality and mental toughness in weight room.

Will do 1 vs. 1 in practices. It's important, iron sharpens iron. It's also a mindset of bringing it every single day. Can't accomplish our goal by having smash-mouth practices everyday but being physical will be a big part of program.

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