Craig Aukerman Denver's new defensive assistant coach. (Courtesy: Courtesy: Kent State Athletic Communications http://www.kentstatesports. com)

Amidst disturbing news rumors, the Denver Broncos have announced that they’ve hired Craig Aukerman to serve as their defensive assistant.

Aukerman is coaching for his 11th season in football and first with the NFL, he comes to Denver via Kent State University where he spent his time coaching the linebackers and leading them to four games where they held opponents scoreless last season.

Aukerman is the first defensive hire under the Wink Martindale regime. Martindale was named defensive coordinator of the Broncos after being promoted from linebacker coach January 28th, 2010. Aukerman is likely Martindale’s hand picked replacement.

Pound the mousy down here for the official press release.

THURSDAY, Feb. 11, 2010

BRONCOS HIRE CRAIG AUKERMAN AS DEFENSIVE ASSISTANT

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos on Thursday hired Craig Aukerman as the team’s defensive assistant, it was announced.

Aukerman, 33, enters his 11th coaching season, his first at the NFL level, after serving in various capacities in 10 seasons at the collegiate level.

Last season, Aukerman guided linebackers at Kent State and helped the Golden Flashes hold four opponents without a touchdown. Junior middle linebacker Cobrani Mixon earned a spot on the All-Mid-American Conference first team after leading the Pirates and placing eighth in the conference with 108 tackles.

Before his stint at Kent State, Aukerman spent four seasons (2005-08) at the University of Miami (Ohio) where he started as the linebackers coach before adding co-special teams coordinator duties in 2007. During his watch, three of the RedHawks’ linebackers – Joey Hudson, Clayton Mullins and Caleb Bostic – appeared on the Butkus Award Preseason Watch list in 2008, the first time in the history of that award that one school had three nominees.

From 2003-04, Aukerman served several roles at Western Kentucky. In 2003, he led the Hilltoppers’ outside linebackers before being named the school’s special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach in 2004. Under his watch, the school ranked in the Gateway Conference’s top three in scoring defense while producing a pair of all-conference linebackers.

In 2001-02, Aukerman was a graduate assistant at Miami (Ohio) where he was responsible for the team’s defensive backs while breaking down the opposition’s offense and directing the offensive scout team.

Aukerman’s initial coaching position was as wide receivers coach at the University of Findlay in 2000.

A four-year letterwinner (1995-98) and two-time NAIA All-American at Findlay, Aukerman played defensive back, wide receiver and contributed on special teams to help the Oilers win two national titles.

Aukerman, who received his bachelor’s degree from Findlay, and his wife, Summer, have a son, Cayden.