Just over a week has passed since Auburn parted ways with Hugh Freeze as head coach, and the university’s athletic department is already fully engaged in the search for his replacement. Although a new hire will not be finalized until after the regular season concludes, the process is well underway, with some added challenges due to potential candidates’ postseason obligations. Nonetheless, Auburn Athletic Director John Cohen made it clear that meaningful discussions are taking place as the program seeks its next leader.
“We have probably had conversations with 7 or 8 sitting head coaches. We’ll get that number down. I would love to have a head coach within 24 hours after the Iron Bowl is over. Is that possible? I don’t know. The reason I don’t know that is because I don’t know how our candidates’ seasons are going to progress over the next three weeks,” Cohen told AL.com.
He added that the uncertainty surrounding candidates’ schedules remains a key factor in the process, but the program’s timeline is built around giving players and recruits clarity. “That’s kind of the X factor for us. That’s my goal and the reason that’s my goal is that our players need to know who their leader is going to be. We need to know what the portal is going to look like. We need to have a nice early signing period for our high school players.”
Freeze’s successor will inherit both high expectations and a solid foundation, especially after Auburn secured consecutive top-10 recruiting classes. Maintaining that recruiting momentum will be critical, as staff choices and early organizational decisions could either accelerate or slow Auburn’s upward trajectory.
Cohen emphasized that the program’s next coach must be someone who embodies Auburn’s culture and aligns with the school’s current and future needs. He expressed confidence that the picture will become much clearer in the coming weeks, saying that the next three weeks should “reveal a lot” about how the search unfolds.
The Tigers have a bye this weekend before returning to action on November 22, when they host Mercer at Jordan-Hare Stadium — a brief pause before what could be a pivotal moment for the program’s future.