Auburn Tigers have announced the hiring of Larry Porter as their new running backs coach, marking his return to the coaching staff after a successful tenure elsewhere. Head coach Alex Golesh made the announcement on Saturday, emphasizing Porter”s extensive experience and ability to develop elite talent.
“Larry Porter is a great fit for our staff,” Golesh stated. “When you look at his resume, you see a top-level coach who”s developed elite talent everywhere he”s been and recruited at the highest level. He”s a true professional who understands what it takes to win in the SEC. Larry is going to help our running backs maximize every ounce of their potential. I couldn”t be more excited to have him, and his family join us on The Plains.”
Porter returns to Auburn after spending the 2025 season at West Virginia as the running backs coach. Previously, he served at Auburn from 2017 to 2020 as the special teams coordinator and also coached the tight ends and H-backs. Before his time at West Virginia, he was at North Carolina from 2021 to 2024, where he held the role of running backs coach and special teams coordinator.
Throughout his career, Porter has received accolades for his recruiting prowess, being named a two-time national recruiter of the year and a three-time nominee for the Broyles Award. He has played a key role in developing numerous players who have succeeded at the NFL level, contributing to 21 bowl appearances since 2002.
During his time at North Carolina, he coached standout running back Omarion Hampton, who gained recognition as a two-time All-American and a finalist for the Doak Walker Award before being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Porter”s coaching experience extends to several prestigious programs, including Texas, Arizona State, LSU, and Oklahoma State. At LSU, he was instrumental in the development of two 1,000-yard rushers, Jacob Hester and Charles Scott, and helped produce multiple NFL draft selections. His time at Oklahoma State was equally impressive, as he coached 1,000-yard rushers for three consecutive seasons.
A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Porter played college football at Memphis, where he was a letterman from 1990 to 1993 and graduated with a degree in education in 1996. He is also a member of the Memphis Athletics M Club Hall of Fame. Porter and his wife, Sharmane, have three children: sons Brandon and Omari, and daughter Olivia.
With a wealth of experience and a proven track record, Porter”s return to Auburn is expected to enhance the program”s running game and recruiting efforts as they prepare for the upcoming season.
