Harsin Fired by Auburn, $22M Buyout, Freeze eyed

AUBURN, Ala. – Bryan Harsin’s tumultuous tenure as Auburn University’s head football coach concluded Sunday, November 20, 2022, with the university announcing his dismissal after less than two full seasons at the helm. The decision came swiftly following the Tigers’ anemic 10-3 loss to Kentucky on Saturday, a defeat that dropped Auburn’s 2022 season record to a dismal 3-7 overall, including a challenging 1-6 mark in SEC play.

Harsin’s overall record at Auburn was 9-12 since his hiring in December 2020. Running backs coach Carnell “Cadillac” Williams has been named interim head coach, a beloved former Auburn star who will lead the team for the remainder of the season, starting with the upcoming game against Western Kentucky.

The move, while immediate, was not entirely unexpected. Harsin’s time on The Plains was marked by significant internal strife and a highly publicized internal review in February 2022. That review, which Harsin ultimately survived, stemmed from allegations of player mistreatment and concerns over program direction, following a mass exodus of players to the transfer portal and several prominent coaching staff departures. At the time, then-interim university president Christopher Roberts and athletic director Allen Greene had publicly supported Harsin, though Greene himself would depart the university months later in August 2022.

Sources close to the athletic department indicated that despite surviving the earlier review, the program’s consistent on-field struggles, particularly the offense’s inability to consistently score points, and perceived recruiting challenges ultimately became insurmountable. The Tigers finished the 2021 season with a 6-7 record, and the 2022 season showed little improvement, highlighted by a four-game losing streak before the Kentucky defeat.

Letting Harsin go before his contract expired carries a substantial financial cost for Auburn. The university is reportedly on the hook for a buyout exceeding $15 million specifically for Harsin, according to terms of his original six-year contract. Additionally, an estimated $7.5 million is owed to his coaching staff, bringing the total cost of moving on from the Harsin regime to approximately $22.5 million. This hefty sum underscores the university’s urgency to change direction.

With Harsin’s departure, attention immediately shifts to the critical search for Auburn’s next head coach. Early speculation among national college football pundits and Auburn fan bases points to Liberty coach Hugh Freeze as a prominent candidate. Freeze, who previously led Ole Miss from 2012-2017 before resigning amid scandal, has rebuilt his coaching career at Liberty, compiling a 34-14 record as of his 2022 season. His offensive philosophy and past success in the SEC are seen as appealing factors.

Other names that have been floated in preliminary discussions include coaches with SEC ties or strong recruiting reputations, though no official search committee or timeline has been announced. The decision will undoubtedly shape the future of Auburn football, a program with high expectations and a history of significant investment in its athletic success. The university now embarks on its third coaching search since the end of the 2020 season, signaling a period of significant transition for one of college football’s most passionate fan bases.