AUBURN, Alabama -- Willie Martinez has emerged as the prohibitive favorite to be named Auburn's newest assistant coach in a move that would reunite him with defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder while bringing the former Georgia assistant back to the SEC.

Martinez would be the third assistant hired with SEC experience by Gene Chizik since the end of the season.

The university has not formally announced the hiring, but Martinez was in Auburn today meeting with coaches.

Martinez would replace Phillip Lolley, who is moving to an administrative job for the second time in his Auburn career. Martinez, who coached at Georgia from 2001-09, spent the last two years coaching defensive backs at Oklahoma. He would coach defensive backs at Auburn as well.

Chizik has already hired two coaches with SEC backgrounds in VanGorder, who coached at Georgia; and offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler, who coached at Florida.

Martinez coached with VanGorder at three different schools.

Auburn would be No. 4.

Martinez had 14 defensive backs go in the NFL draft over the last 10 years.

Martinez was at Georgia for nine seasons, including as a defensive backs coach when VanGorder was the defensive coordinator. Martinez took over as defensive coordinator while coaching the secondary from 2005-09. Georgia won 90 games in those nine seasons.

His 2007 defense ranked 14th nationally and his 2006 defense was eighth. His 2005 defense was eighth nationally in scoring defense.

He was at Oklahoma the last two seasons before leaving after Sooners' head coach Bob Stoops shook up the staff to bring in his brother, Mike, leaving Martinez without a position. Bob Stoops said Martinez left because he had "some attractive options and is going to pursue them."

"He represented our program in the right way and will continue to do well in our profession," Stoops said.

Two other of Martinez's coaching stops mirror VanGorder's. They were together at Central Michigan and Central Florida. His early coaching stops included Eastern Michigan and Bethune-Cookman, and he was a graduate assistant at Miami.

Willie Martinez coaching bio

2010-11 - Oklahoma

Secondary

2005-2009 - Georgia

Defensive Coordinator, Secondary

2001-2004 - Georgia

Secondary

2000 - Central Michigan

Asst. Head Coach, Secondary

1998-1999 - Central Michigan

Secondary

1997 - Eastern Michigan

Secondary

1995-1996 - Central Florida

Defensive Coordinator, Secondary

1994 - Central Michigan

Secondary

1992-1993 - Grand Valley State

Defensive Coordinator, Secondary

1991 - Olympic Heights (Fla.) H.S.

Defensive Coordinator, Secondary

1989-1990 - Boca Raton (Fla.) H.S.

Secondary

1988 - Bethune-Cookman

Quarterbacks, Receivers

1985-1986 - Miami (Fla.)

Graduate Assistant

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