Bryan Harsin survived Auburn’s university inquiry in February. He couldn’t survive what happened on the field in September and October.
Harsin is out as Auburn’s coach just eight games into his second season on the Tigers’ sideline, and no one should be surprised. After going through only-at-Auburn drama this winter, Harsin needed an exceptionally strong start to turn down the heat and give himself a realistic chance at Year 3. He wasn’t helped when the school in late August split with athletic director Allen Greene, who had hired Harsin as an outsider from the Pacific Northwest. (Sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that Mississippi State AD Mark Cohen was finalizing a deal Monday to replace Greene at Auburn.)
The team didn’t deliver, either. After two lukewarm wins to begin the season, Auburn was flattened by Penn State on its home field Sept. 17, and was extremely fortunate to beat Missouri in overtime. Blowing a 17-0 lead at home in a loss to LSU started a four-game losing streak that culminated with a 41-27 loss to Arkansas this weekend. Auburn then pulled the plug on the Harsin era, which some felt was doomed from the start. He finished 9-12 at Auburn.
Harsin had been a strange fit on the Plains, lacking SEC experience and having spent all but four years of his career in his hometown of Boise, Iowa, where he played quarterback for Boise State. Although Auburn has chewed up and spit out all sorts of coaches since Hall of Famer Pat Dye, the program is slightly more lenient toward its own. Greene acted independently in hiring Harsin, and both ultimately didn’t last.
This time, Auburn’s top boosters likely will have more say in the hire. A former SEC assistant described Auburn this way: “The worst good job in the country.” Despite all the dysfunction around the program, Auburn has the potential to win big. The Tigers won a national title in 2010, played for another in 2013 and won the SEC West Division in 2017. Despite sharing a state with Alabama and coach Nick Saban, Auburn is in a strong location for recruits and boasts a large and passionate fan base. After the Harsin-Greene exits, Auburn is widely expected to hire someone more connected to the program and/or the SEC.
Here’s a look at who Auburn could consider to replace Harsin, from several strong candidates to a few longshots. There could be some candidate crossover with Georgia Tech, which got a slight head start in its coaching search.
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin: Lane Train vs. Saban in the Iron Bowl? It seems too good to be true, but it could happen. Kiffin wouldn’t shy away from the challenge, and has the schematic chops, recruiting talent and SEC knowledge to get Auburn rolling relatively soon. His name surfaced briefly in the Miami and LSU searches last year, but Auburn could be a more natural landing spot after his success at Ole Miss (23-9 in two-plus seasons, 8-1 this fall). Kiffin, 47, is an elite quarterback developer and playcaller who has revived his career since being fired at USC in 2013. His recent grumbling about Ole Miss’ fan support could indicate he would like a higher-profile environment in the SEC. Kiffin also has done one of his best coaching jobs this season after Ole Miss lost quarterback Matt Corral and other standouts.
Liberty coach Hugh Freeze: His return to the SEC hasn’t come as quickly as some predicted, but it still seems like an inevitability. Despite a scandal-plagued exit from Ole Miss in 2017, Freeze’s ability to put together dynamic offenses and competitive teams is undeniable. He has recorded at least eight wins and a bowl victory in each of his first three seasons at Liberty, which is 7-1 this season with a narrow loss to No. 20 Wake Forest. Freeze, 53, went 39-25 at Ole Miss with two wins over Saban’s Alabama team. He would connect well with the Auburn base, ramp up recruiting and most likely elevate the program quickly. Freeze last week agreed to a new contract through 2023, but likely wouldn’t be stopped from a return to the SEC.
Baylor offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes: The veteran assistant has improved his stock in recent years, first as a coordinator at BYU and now Baylor, which won the Big 12 last season and will challenge again this fall. In 2021, Grimes was a finalist for the Broyles Award, which goes to the nation’s top assistant. He also has ties to Auburn, after coaching offensive line there from 2009 to 2012, and maintains good relationships with those around the program. Grimes also spent 2014 to 2017 at LSU. Auburn is a big job for a first-time head coach, but Grimes, 54, will get some consideration. The Texas native will be a head coach in the near future.
Jackson State coach Deion Sanders: Next to Kiffin, no Auburn hire would generate more buzz than Sanders, who will soon get an opportunity to lead a Power 5 program after his success on and off the field at Jackson State. Sanders, 55, gets the NIL game better than most and has taken Jackson State’s recruiting to an unthinkable level. He was a top candidate for TCU’s coaching vacancy last year, and could be drawn to a job such as Auburn. Sanders has what it takes to elevate the program and challenge Saban and Alabama. Can you imagine the Aflac commercials?
Matt Rhule: The big question surrounding Rhule, fired Oct. 10 by the Carolina Panthers, is when he wants to return to the college ranks. If it’s immediately, Rhule should be on the short list for every school with an opening, including Auburn. His work in transforming Baylor after one of the worst scandals in college sports history, especially as an outsider to central Texas, reinforces how geographically versatile he can be. Rhule, 47, went 11-3 in his final year at Baylor and won 10 games in each of his final two seasons at Temple. He can reestablish some culture elements at Auburn and recruit and develop, although a lack of SEC experience could be a concern after Harsin’s predictable struggles.
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops: Kiffin might not be the only sitting SEC coach Auburn will look at to replace Harsin. Stoops, 55, has done incredible work building and sustaining the Kentucky program, which has reached bowls in six consecutive seasons and won 10 games in both 2018 and 2021. His name surfaced for LSU’s vacancy last year, and he might have landed the Tigers job if not for Brian Kelly’s emergence. Kentucky hasn’t met expectations this season, but Stoops’ overall body of work in player development, scheme and recruiting makes him an attractive candidate for an Auburn program seeking greater stability.
Bill Clark: Auburn talked to Clark before ultimately hiring Harsin, and could take another look at a coach with an incredible track record and deep roots in the state. In June, Clark stepped down at UAB because of chronic back problems, but he recovered well from surgery and didn’t close the door on a return to coaching, telling ESPN’s Alex Scarborough, “I’ve left it open.” An Alabama native, Clark, 54, began his career as a high school coach in the state and went on to win consecutive state titles at Prattville High before entering the college level at South Alabama. He stuck with UAB through the program’s two-year hiatus and went on to win two Conference USA titles and finish 49-26 at the school.
Miami defensive coordinator Kevin Steele: When things were going downhill for coach Gus Malzahn, Steele had positioned himself as a potential replacement. He did good work as Auburn’s defensive coordinator from 2016 to 2020, and had support from key stakeholders around the program. Greene ultimately went on his own for the hire, but the school could be more enamored with Steele, 64, who knows the SEC and the region extremely well. Steele’s only head-coaching stint didn’t go well (9-36 in four seasons at Baylor), but his overall experience and previous connection to Auburn would be hard to match. Miami’s poor start this season likely doesn’t help his chances.
Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien: He’s in his second and likely final season on Saban’s staff at Alabama, where he mentored Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young in 2021. O’Brien, 52, isn’t a Southerner but has spent a decent chunk of his career in the region, working at Georgia Tech from 1995 to 2002 and serving as Houston Texans coach from 2014 to 2020. Name recognition wouldn’t be a struggle for O’Brien, who made four playoff appearances with the Texans and went 15-9 at Penn State despite extremely difficult circumstances. He might be a better fit at Georgia Tech and possibly Nebraska, but should be on the radar for Auburn, too.
Coastal Carolina Jamey Chadwell: Despite never working at a Power 5 program, Chadwell has positioned himself for a bigger job. The question is whether Auburn would be the right spot. Chadwell, 45, has put the Coastal Carolina program on the map since 2020, going 28-3 during the span. He runs an innovative offensive scheme that could help Auburn stand out in the SEC. A Tennessee native, Chadwell has spent almost his entire career in the Southeast. He ultimately might be a better fit at Georgia Tech but could garner consideration at Auburn.