Though he grew up in south Georgia, Aairon Savage has always had a special connection to north Alabama.

His wife’s parents live in Decatur.

His college roommate at Auburn, Jerraud Powers, played at Decatur High School.

Now, Savage is the head coach of the Red Raiders.

“I’ve always kept tabs on the area,” he told AL.com late Tuesday night. “We’ve had a house here. Jerraud and I always have kept in contact, and he went to school here. I’m tickled to death to have this opportunity. My wife loves it here. Our two girls love it. It was really a no-brainer.”

Savage replaces Jere Adcock, who won 187 games in 27 years as Decatur’s head coach. Savage is just the school’s sixth football coach since 1933.

“For me, it’s a blessing,” he said. “This program has such a rich tradition and history. Guys stay here. Coaches stay here. When you come into a program like this, it is motivating and inspiring to know the tradition. I want to follow those guys and be a pillar in the community. The biggest thing to me is to be able to share, motivate and inspire.”

Savage played safety on Auburn’s 2010 BCS national championship team, a group with a unique chemistry that he said is a key for successful teams.

“There were two really special things about that season, really special characteristics of that team,” he said. “No. 1, we loved being around each other. Good player-led teams love to be around each other, and we did. Second, as long as there was time on the clock, we were going to go out and compete to win. The championship teams I’ve been around have had both of those traits. That’s really what it is all about in this sport – being in line with guys with the same vision you have.”

Savage comes to Decatur after coaching defensive backs for Western Illinois most recently. He also has had college coaching experience at Louisiana-Lafayette, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Georgia State, Northern Iowa, Arkansas Tech and Army and spent time as a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech and Auburn.

This is his first head coaching job.

“What a blessing,” he said. “Growing up around the game and having the privilege to be around so many great college coaches on so many levels and seeing how they run their program, I feel like I’m ready. You pick up things you like as you go and develop your own niche. Every competitor wants that opportunity to build their own staff, put that sweat equity in and do a good job for the kids.”

Savage said he starts his new job today.

“I can’t wait to get started,” he said Tuesday night. “I’m ready to get in there, meet the boys and just get it going and build those relationships with the players and staff. I’m ready to embark on this new journey. I think everything will fall into place and we will take off and keep rolling.”