Gus Malzahn continues to beef up his support staff at Auburn this offseason with the latest hiring coming at the director of high school relations position.

Auburn has hired former Samford director of recruiting and linebackers coach Ross Newton as the program’s new director of high school relations. Newton, a Samford graduate, had 14 years of experience at the school including nine years as the director of recruiting for the football program.

During his time coaching at Samford, Newton helped develop 2016 All-American linebacker Shaheed Salmon, 2013 Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year in linebacker Justin Shade, 2010 All-Southern Conference defensive linemen Alex Davis and John Michael Clay and 2008 All-Southern Conference selection Patrick Hatcher.

If you are unfamiliar with the role of a director of high school relations, Newton will be in charge of keeping in contact with high school coaches for the Auburn staff on a day-to-day basis and setting up social events for Auburn and high school coaches.

Newton shared the news of his hire at Auburn on Wednesday: