Craig Aukerman
refer to caption
Aukerman in 2021
Personal information
Born: (1976-11-22) November 22, 1976 (age 47)
McComb, Ohio, U.S.
Career information
College:University of Findlay
Career history
As a coach:

Craig Aukerman (born November 22, 1976) is an American football coach and former defensive back and wide receiver who was most recently the special teams coordinator for the Tennessee Titans.

Playing career

Aukerman played football collegiately at the University of Findlay. There he played defensive back and wide receiver from 1995 to 1998.[1]

Coaching career

College coaching

Aukerman began his coaching career at his alma mater the University of Findlay where he served as a wide receivers coach. For the next two years he was with the Miami RedHawks working as a graduate assistant. He then went on to the Hilltoppers only to return to Miami after two years. After four more seasons with Miami,[2] in 2009 Aukerman served as the linebackers at Kent State.

NFL coaching

Aukerman broke into the NFL as a defensive assistant for the 2010 Denver Broncos[3] only to leave after a year and join the Jacksonville Jaguars in the same capacity. In 2012, he was transitioned to become an assistant special teams coach[4][5] instead of defense with the Jaguars. In 2013 Aukerman went out west to San Diego and joined the Chargers. His first three years with the organization he worked as an assistant special teams coach[6][7] but in 2016 he was given the coordinator role.[8]

In 2017, he joined the Titans as an assistant special teams coach but was given the coordinator title by Mike Vrabel the following year.[9] On December 4, 2023, Aukerman was fired following a disastrous 31-28 Week 13 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts.[10] The game featured two consecutive Titans punts being blocked; the first of which was returned for a touchdown, while the second resulted in the season-ending injury of punter Ryan Stonehouse and a critical missed extra point attempt.[10][11]

Personal life

Craig and his wife Summer both attended rural high schools in Ohio. They met while Craig was working as a graduate assistant at the University of Miami (Ohio), and Summer was a volleyball player studying special education. The couple has two children, Cayden and Bryce.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Findlay". athletics.findlay.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  2. ^ "Craig Aukerman Joins Miami Football Staff as Linebackers Coach". Miami University RedHawks. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  3. ^ markinkrott. "Craig Aukerman". Mark Inkrott. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  4. ^ "Jaguars hire Aukerman, as special teams assistant". FOX Sports. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  5. ^ "Duffner, Aukerman return to Jaguars coaching staff". www.jaguars.com. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  6. ^ "Chargers special teams not so special in 2015". ESPN.com. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  7. ^ Srinivasan, Arun. "Chargers fire special teams coordinator Kevin Spencer". theScore.com. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  8. ^ "Evaluating the Special Teams with ST Coordinator Craig Aukerman". www.chargers.com. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  9. ^ "Titans coach Mike Vrabel promotes Craig Aukerman to ST coordinator". www.sportingnews.com. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  10. ^ a b Wyatt, Jim (December 4, 2023). "Titans HC Mike Vrabel Makes Changes on His Coaching Staff at Special Teams". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  11. ^ Wyatt, Jim (December 4, 2023). "Injury Updates on RB Derrick Henry, DT Jeffery Simmons and Punter Ryan Stonehouse". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  12. ^ Ago, • 5 Years (2016-06-14). "Four Sports Are Represented in the Active Aukerman Family". 92009 Magazine. Retrieved 2021-02-21.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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