Auburn fires Freeze after 6-16 SEC record

AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn University has terminated head football coach Hugh Freeze, effective Monday, as confirmed by ESPN sources, marking the end of a brief and largely unsuccessful tenure on The Plains. The move comes just over two seasons after Freeze was hired, with the Tigers struggling to find consistent success under his leadership.

Freeze concludes his time at Auburn with a disappointing 15-19 overall record and a particularly challenging 6-16 mark in Southeastern Conference (SEC) play. This season, the team showed little signs of breaking through in the competitive SEC, suffering key losses that reportedly fueled growing frustration among the fanbase and university leadership.

The university originally brought Freeze in December 2022, signing him to a substantial six-year, $39 million contract. With four years still remaining on that deal, Auburn faces a significant financial obligation, reportedly owing Freeze approximately $26 million. This substantial buyout adds another layer to the financial challenges for an athletic department that has seen multiple coaching changes in recent years.

Athletic Director John Cohen, who led the search that brought Freeze to Auburn, is now tasked with finding the university’s third full-time head coach since the end of the 2020 season. In the interim, wide receivers coach Marcus Davis, a former Auburn player, has been appointed as the team’s head coach, providing leadership through this transition period.

Freeze’s hiring was met with mixed reactions due to his past. Before his arrival at Auburn, he coached for four seasons at Liberty, where he rebuilt his coaching reputation with a strong 34-15 record. However, his most notable and controversial run was at Ole Miss from 2012 to 2016. That stint concluded abruptly in July 2017 when he resigned after a school investigation revealed he had made calls to escort services using his university-issued phone. This personal conduct scandal surfaced amidst a broader NCAA investigation into Ole Miss’s football program, which eventually led to significant sanctions.

Auburn’s decision to hire Freeze, despite his ethical breaches at Ole Miss, was reportedly driven by his offensive prowess and perceived ability to quickly elevate a program. However, the on-field results at Auburn failed to meet the high expectations of the university and its passionate fanbase. The program has struggled to maintain consistency and compete at the top tier of the SEC West in recent years, cycling through coaches like Gus Malzahn, Bryan Harsin, and now Freeze in rapid succession.

The search for Freeze’s replacement will be closely watched, with the university expected to prioritize a candidate who can bring stability, a strong recruiting presence, and a clear vision for competing consistently for championships in one of college football’s toughest conferences. The financial implications of this latest change, coupled with the desire for a lasting solution, will undoubtedly shape the scope and direction of Cohen’s urgent search.