Byrnes loses Bentley to Auburn

– Dallas Jackson, NationalHSFootball.com

Duncan (S.C.) Byrnes head coach Bobby Bentley will be leaded back to the college ranks in 2014.

Bentley confirmed media reports and informed his team Monday afternoon that he was accepting an analyst position with the Auburn football program.

During two separate stints with Byrnes — 1995-2006 and 2013 — Bentley pushed the program onto the national landscape. The first time with the team he lead the Rebels to four consecutive state titles during a stretch from 2002-05. In his final year, the team was defeated in the state semifinals by Irmo (S.C.) Dutch Fork and finished No. 45 in the HSFB100.

Bentley is most well known for his explosive passing offenses which has produced numerous Division I quarterbacks. He also runs a quarterback and wide receivers camp in South Carolina that bears his name.

Under the watch of Bentley, Byrnes produced Anthony Johnson, who signed with UAB in the Class of 2002 and Willy Korn in the Class of 2007.

His stepson Chas Dodd led the program for three seasons under coach Chris Miller and signed with Rutgers in the Class of 2010, before his biological son, Shuler, took control the next three and the signed with Old Dominion in the Class of 2013.

The third son on the quarterback tree is Jake, who had an Auburn offer before playing a snap of varsity football. Jake will lead the Rebels this year unless the family relocates to Alabama.

Bentley was also the head coach at Presbyterian College in 2007 and 2008, returning to his alma mater to lead the program in its transition from Division II to the Football Championship Subdivision. The team went 6-5 in his first season followed by a 4-8 season in 2008.

Bentley had been offered a position on the Auburn staff the first season that Gus Malzahn took over but declined. Interest was refueled this season as the Tigers lost five support staff positions.

There has been no word from Byrnes as to how a search for Bentley’s replacement will go. Bentley served as the athletic director for the program the last three years while also being the offensive coordinator until he regained control as head coach.

Byrnes is scheduled to travel to Northern California to take on national high school football power, Concord (Cali.) De La Salle, on Sept. 12.

The Varsity Board: What will this do to the Byrnes program?