Last week, Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said former running backs coach Tim Horton had "decided to do something different." That "something" has now been made public.
Horton has accepted a job as running backs coach at Vanderbilt, per a release from Vandy on Wednesday afternoon.
"Tim Horton brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our offensive staff, coming to West End after more than a decade working in the SEC," said Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason. "He has a proven track record of working with outstanding running backs and helping them reach their goals of playing in the NFL. I look forward to seeing him doing the same with our running back corps."
After coaching running backs on The Plains since 2013, Horton was reportedly moved to an off-the-field role within Auburn's program on Jan. 13. Ten days later, Malzahn hired former Auburn great Cadillac Williams as the new position coach.
“First of all, Tim did a very good job and he is a great person and everybody knows all that," Malzahn said last week. "Tim decided that he was going to go do something different and we wish him nothing but the best."
Horton coached five 1,000-yard rushers during his tenure with the Tigers — Kerryon Johnson in 2017, Kamryn Pettway in 2016, Peyton Barber in 2015, Cameron Artis-Payne in 2014 and Tre Mason in 2013.
Last season, Auburn failed to have an individual reach the 1,000-yard mark for the first time since 2008, snapping a nine-year streak that was the longest in the SEC.
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Nathan King, senior in journalism with a minor in business, is The Plainsman's sports editor.
