As Auburn’s coaching search heats up, interim head coach DJ Durkin faced questions Thursday about his long-term commitment to the program.
Athletic director John Cohen has already said Durkin is a contender for the permanent job. Still, Durkin was pressed on whether he’s agreed to remain on staff through the early signing period or a potential bowl game even if he isn’t chosen as head coach.
Durkin sidestepped the question.
“We’re trying to go 1-0,” he said. “Our focus is on winning Saturday’s game, and that’s everyone’s focus in the building.”
Cohen told AL.com earlier this week that he wants Durkin to stay at Auburn “no matter what happens,” noting that several coaching candidates have expressed interest in working with him.
“Some of our candidates mentioned they tried to hire DJ Durkin at one point,” Cohen said. “So yes, that’s absolutely been part of our conversations with each candidate.”
Cohen also said he expects Auburn to announce its next head coach within 24 hours after the Iron Bowl on Nov. 29. He added that he “would doubt” the school pushes the decision beyond the Dec. 3–5 early signing period.
According to CBS, the names surfacing most often in Auburn’s search are Tulane’s Jon Sumrall, Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea, and Durkin. Both Sumrall and Lea still have their teams in the College Football Playoff hunt, meaning their seasons run past the early signing period.
If offered the job, they could face an unprecedented decision — leaving their programs before the playoff begins, something no coach has done since the CFP’s debut in 2014.