Auburn gets Scot Loeffler to run offense

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AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn has hired former Temple offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler to try to revive an offense that sputtered after winning a national championship.

The Tigers announced Sunday that Loeffler will replace Gus Malzahn, who left to become head coach at Arkansas State.

The former Michigan quarterback has worked with six future NFL passers during his college career, including Tom Brady and Tim Tebow. Loeffler spent the 2008 season in the NFL as Detroit's quarterbacks coach.

"Scot is a rising star who has worked with some very good quarterbacks and has achieved a tremendous amount of success," Auburn coach Gene Chizik said. "He is a tireless worker, is an outstanding recruiter and knows the rigors of competing in this conference. We're very excited to have Scot join our staff and we welcome him to the Auburn family."

Loeffler is charged with turning around an offense that Malzahn and quarterback Cam Newton turned into one of the nation's best en route to the national title two seasons ago. With inconsistent quarterback play, the Tigers slipped to 100th in total offense last season.

Returning quarterbacks Clint Moseley and Kiehl Frazier both struggled to get the passing game going. Seven-game starter Barrett Trotter, who has graduated, decided not to return next season, and All-Southeastern Conference tailback Mike Dyer was suspended before the bowl game and transferred to Arkansas State.

Loeffler helped the Owls to a 9-4 record in his lone season, and his offense ranked seventh nationally in rushing.

Loeffler was Florida's quarterbacks coach during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, working with Tebow in his final season when the current Denver Broncos starter passed for 2,895 yards and 21 touchdowns. Now, he's returning to the SEC.

"Auburn is one of the special jobs and special places in college athletics with a tremendous amount of history and tradition," Loeffler said.

Loeffler coached quarterbacks at alma mater Michigan from 2002-07, working with second-round draft pick Chad Henne, who became the first true freshman quarterback to lead his team to a Big Ten title and start in a BCS bowl game.

Under Loeffler, John Navarre became the team's first All-Big Ten first-team quarterback since 1997.

Loeffler worked with Brady and Brian Griese as a graduate and student assistant at Michigan.

Chizik had already hired defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder from the Atlanta Falcons.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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