By Bart Moss

For the FCT

Former Russellville Golden Tiger football coach Doug Goodwin was hired Wednesday by Gus Malzahn.

Goodwin will serve as the Auburn football program’s Director of High School Relations.

The job Goodwin began on Wednesday morning is a natural fit for the 27-year high school football coaching veteran. Goodwin served as the head football coach at multiple Alabama high schools – Homewood, Russellville, Demopolis, Lineville, and Marion County.  He won a state championship at Demopolis and has compiled a career record of 234-91.

For his part, Goodwin is excited about going to work Malzahn.

“I’m really excited and really appreciative to Coach Malzahn and looking forward to helping him and working for Auburn and serving high school coaches,” Goodwin said in a statement issued by the Auburn Sports Information Department.

“Coach Malzahn as a value system very similar to mine, he’s a Christian coach and he felt like I would be a good fit for this job”

He also is looking forward to going to work for school and a program he was a part of in the 1980s as a walk-on defensive back.

“I’m looking forward to being back at Auburn,” he said.

“I fell in love with Auburn when I was a freshman in 1980, and I’m really excited to be back and serve the University.”

Malzahn, a former high school football coach, made it a priority to hire high school coaches and give them the same opportunity he had.

Chip Lindsey, former Colbert Heights football coach, was hired by Malzahn last year as an offensive analyst. Lindsey was able to use the position to get hired as the new Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at the University of Southern Mississippi.