AUBURN — New Auburn coach Gene Chizik has named Curtis Luper as his running backs coach.

Luper spent the last four seasons as running backs coach at Oklahoma State. He has also been the Cowboys’ assistant head coach for player development for the past two seasons.

Under Luper, the Cowboys’ running attack has led the Big 12 in rushing the last three seasons and finished 2008 averaging 245.5 yards per game.

“Curtis Luper is a tremendous coach, who I’ve had the pleasure of watching blossom from a player to the successful individual that he is today,” Chizik said.

Under Luper’s tutelage, the Cowboys have had back-to-back 1,000 yard rushers in Kendall Hunter (1,555) in 2008 and Dantrell Savage (1,272) in 2007.