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The Auburn Tigers are starting a national coaching search to replace Hugh Freeze after the program fired him on Sunday. More News: LSU Linked to Ultimate Anti-Brian Kelly Candidate The Tigers are one of four SEC teams looking for a new coach, with Arkansas, Florida and LSU searching for a new leader before 2026. 12 FBS jobs are open in college football, and nine of those are Power 4 programs. Auburn has a history of winning championships, but it’ll face a steep challenge of finding an upgrade at head coach with such a saturated market. FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS – NOVEMBER 11: college football helmet of the Auburn Tigers on the sidelines during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on November 11, 2023 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Tigers defeated the Razorbacks 48-10. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) More News: Auburn Given College Football Playoff Warning After Firing Hugh Freeze Per Grant Grubbs of On3, Tigers athletic director John Cohen confirmed that interim head coach DJ Durkin is one of the potential candidates to replace Freeze as the permanent coach at Auburn. “DJ Durkin, who began this season as Auburn‘s defensive coordinator, was named the team’s interim coach after the school fired Hugh Freeze Sunday,” Grubbs wrote. “On Monday, Auburn athletic director John Cohen said Durkin will be considered as a candidate to replace Freeze. “Auburn hired Durkin to be its defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in January 2024. Auburn allowed 330.8 yards per game last season, ranking No. 31 in the country.” Durkin, 47, has previous head coaching experience. He went 1-0 for Florida as the interim head coach in a 28-20 win over East Carolina in the 2015 Birmingham Bowl. Durkin went 10-15 during his two seasons at Maryland. He was fired midway through the 2018 season after spending the majority of the campaign on administrative leave following the death of a player from heatstroke sustained during a May workout. Durkin was fired one day after being reinstated from administrative leave, and did not coach a game in 2018. Durkin has three more opportunities to impress Cohen this season. Auburn will next travel to play Vanderbilt on Saturday. The Tigers will then host Mercer on Nov. 22 before finishing the regular season at home against No. 4 Alabama on Nov. 29. The 4-5 Tigers need to earn two more victories to become bowl eligible. For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.
