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Auburn dismissed Hugh Freeze after a 4-5 start to the 2025 season. Freeze spent just over two seasons as the program's head coach, and the Tigers are now in the market for a successor.So, with the college football season at its business end, let's look at three potential candidates for the vacant Auburn head coach job after Hugh Freeze's firing.Top 3 coaching candidates to replace Hugh Freeze in 20253. Brent Key, Georgia TechBrent Key has turned Georgia Tech's fortunes around, and the program is now one of the better ones in the ACC. The Yellow Jackets are 8-1 this season, and they're playing some of the best football around.That makes Brent Key one of the most in-demand coaches in college football. The Auburn Tigers could do with a new identity under Key, and they could offer him way more than he's earning at Georgia Tech.However, Key has remarkable job security, a great relationship with the program, and the potential to be the greatest head coach of the school's modern era. It's unlikely that he'll give up all of that for a move to Auburn.2. Manny Diaz, DukeManny Diaz has a defensive background, and he's doing a solid job with the Duke Blue Devils in 2025. The Blue Devils are fresh off a Week 10 win over the Clemson Tigers, and the vibes are immaculate in the locker room.Auburn could use a locker room boost and potentially a new system after Hugh Freeze's tenure. Diaz's experience makes him a tantalizing prospect for the job. However, appointing him might need to wait until the end of the 2025 season.1. Kenny Dillingham, Arizona StateKenny Dillingham was Auburn's offensive coordinator in the 2019 season. The Tigers averaged 33.2 points per game, a total they've not replicated since.These days, Kenny Dillingham is the head coach at Arizona State, and he's leading the team to new territory. However, a call from his former employers might be too good to ignore.Kenny Dillingham has extensive experience as an offensive coordinator. His deep understanding of the game might be just what gets him the Auburn Tigers head coach gig at the end of the hiring cycle.
