-- The relationship began in January of 2009. Gus Malzahn had just been hired by Gene Chick as Auburn's offensive coordinator. He was recruiting a tight end of some promise from Lassiter High in the Metro Atlanta area.

Chip Lindsey returned Friday to college football after two seasons as the head coach at Spain Park High School in Hoover. Lindsey, who spent one year at Troy as a quarterbacks coach, led the Jaguars to the first region title in school history this season. (AL.com file photo)

Philip Lutzenkirchen was that high school player. His head coach at that time was Chip Lindsey.

Fast forward to 2013. Malzahn came calling on Lindsey again with another pitch. This time he was recruiting the head football coach at Spain Park to join his first coaching staff at Auburn.

Malzahn offered Lindsey a job on the Auburn football staff this week in an off-the-field and support role. Lindsey accepted and had an emotional meeting with his Spain Park team Friday morning about it.

"It was a lot of hugs and a lot of tears," Lindsey said. "But I think it is a good move for my career and my family," Lindsey said. "I'm really excited about it."

Lindsey, 40, said the decision to leave Spain Park did not come easy. When he took the job in December of 2010, he was moving to live near several members of his immediate family.

"Can't say enough about Spain Park and these people and this community," Lindsey said. "These people that work here are just phenomenal. I've built some really great relationships here that I am really going to really miss."

Back in 2008, Lindsey was at the helm of a high school offense that would go on to smash Georgia High School Association passing records.

Lindsey had been the offensive coordinator at Hoover High before that time. He beat out 250 other applicants for that job. He left Lassiter for a job as an on-the-field assistant at Troy. Lindsey was the quarterbacks coach there for one season.

That's when "an incredible opportunity" came up to

. It made sense for his family.

But then Malzahn offered another "incredible opportunity" a few days ago.

"I put a lot of thought and prayer into it," Lindsey said. "It is just the right move for me and my family."

Lindsey replaced David Shores as the head coach at Spain Park in 2011. He'd spent the previous season as the quarterbacks coach at Troy. (AL.com file photo)

It is an unspecified off-the-role at present. His actual duties are expected to be defined at a later time.

Lindsey led Spain Park to a 10-3 season and the first region title in school history this fall with senior quarterback Nick Mullens guiding a passing offense that produced over 3,600 yards, 40 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.

Lindsey, who plans to move to Auburn quickly, said it was hard to keep his composure during his morning meeting with his team.

He said his players understood because he wasn't leaving for another high school job, but for a position at Auburn in the Southeastern Conference.

"There really are some great people at Spain Park,' Lindsey said. "I really love it here at Spain Park. I wouldn't have left for any other opportunity except at a place like Auburn."

Lindsey leaves one of the highest-paying jobs in Alabama high school football. The Spain Park compensation package, like the one at Hoover, pays more than $100,000 annually.

"I think Spain Park needs to find a guy that will come in and build relationships with people first," Lindsey said. "I think a lot of the best coaches in the state will want this job. Its a unique place and it takes the right fit. I think our administration will do a great job of finding the right guy and Spain Park will continue to do well."

What did Lutzenkirchen think about his former high school coach now going to coach at the place where he was part of a national championship team?

The father of four took over a Lassiter team in 2008 that had posted consecutive 3-7 seasons and went 21-4 during his two years. He's also been a head coach at Colbert Heights in Alabama. Lindsey has a 50-21 career record as a prep coach.

Those Lassiter teams set school marks for wins each year and won the first state playoff game, first region title and also achieved the first unbeaten regular season in school history.

His 2009 Lassiter team produced a staggering season for quarterback Hutson Mason. Mason threw for 4,560 yards and 56 touchdowns during a senior year that produced a scholarship from the University of Georgia. Both of those totals were Georgia state records at the time.

Lindsey was the offensive coordinator at Hoover for Rush Propst's final season in 2007. He's also been an assistant at Florence, Deshler, Sparkman and Springville.

Lindsey's expertise is in the current offensive system currently in use at Houston, Oklahoma State and now Southern Miss.

Jeff Sentell covers Birmingham high school sports for The Alabama Media Group and The Birmingham News. Write to him at jsentell@al.com.

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