Former Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin is once again searching for his next opportunity after a major shakeup at the University of California, where head coach Justin Wilcox abruptly stepped down earlier this week. The unexpected vacancy has thrust Harsin’s name back into the coaching conversation, though his controversial exit from Auburn continues to cast a long shadow over his future prospects.
Harsin, who was fired by Auburn in 2022 after a tumultuous tenure marked by internal investigations, poor on-field results, and widespread player departures, has struggled to regain his footing in major college football. After brief analyst stints, he resurfaced this season on Wilcox’s Cal staff, working in an off-field advisory role aimed at rebuilding his coaching reputation.
But Wilcox’s departure—announced with immediate effect—has left the Golden Bears in flux. Cal’s general manager, Ron Rivera, released a carefully worded statement praising Wilcox’s “dedication and professionalism,” while also hinting that the program was ready for a new direction. Rivera did not mention Harsin by name, but sources indicate he is expected to receive at least preliminary consideration as the school begins its search.
Whether Cal is willing to risk the optics of elevating a coach once embroiled in one of Auburn’s most public internal meltdowns remains unclear. Harsin’s tenure on the Plains was defined by fractured relationships with players and boosters, a stagnant offense, and repeated questions about program culture. His 9–12 record over two seasons made him one of the shortest-tenured Auburn coaches in modern history.
Still, some in coaching circles believe Harsin’s experience and recent efforts to rehabilitate his image could earn him interviews—either at Cal or at another program in need of a veteran presence.
National insiders also note that Auburn’s own coaching situation, currently unstable amid ongoing performance issues, has led to fan speculation about whether Harsin could ever be considered for a return. But multiple sources close to the program have dismissed that idea entirely, calling it “impossible” and “not even a remote consideration.”
For now, Harsin is an unemployed coach once more—one whose name continues to generate debate wherever it appears. Whether this next chapter offers redemption or yet another dead end may depend on how quickly schools are willing to forget the chaos that defined his exit from Auburn.