Sam Pittman offers Auburn leadership advice on hiring head coach

Sam Pittman is offering up some advice to Auburn after Arkansas delivered the final blow to the Bryan Harsin era for the Tigers.

Speaking during the SEC Coaches Teleconference, Pittman offered up his thoughts on how Auburn should approach hiring their next coach.

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“Do you have a love for the university? Do you have SEC experience? if they’ve been in the league. It’s a different league,” began Pittman. “Obviously to turn any program, you’ve got to recruit well. Probably ask who the coordinators are, who are your top recruiters. Guys like that, that you can bring in that can recruit the Atlanta area and those things, but you know, luckily I don’t have to be in those interviews. But I think you find somebody who’s got a love for the university, who can recruit and obviously knows the area. You’ve got to be able to hire real good coordinators. Things of that nature.

“Auburn will be able to do that. They’ve got a really strong tradition.”

Of course, Pittman wasn’t exactly the public’s No. 1 choice to takeover Arkansas when he was hired, and he knows that. Along those lines, the Razorbacks leader was asked about the difference between the best choice and the most popular choice.

“The obvious choice is for the public. The obvious choice might be the most popular choice. Popularity, from what I understand, doesn’t win any football games,” answered Pittman. “I think that athletic directors have to understand the feel of the person there. Is this a permanent job, or just one they’re trying to step into and turn the program and leave? Do I feel like this job is the Taj Mahal? You can feel that in interviews. 

“I don’t know that I’ve ever got interviewed for a job that I didn’t really, really what. If I thought, ‘Well, I don’t know if I want this job or not,’ I didn’t get offered it. But if I knew I wanted the job, my percentages went way up high, and I think there’s a lot to do with passion and what you think of the program. I’m sure they’ll find that guy.”

Auburn should count their lucky stars Sam Pittman imposed some wisdom on them for free, as it’s indisputable the Arkansas leader has it right when it comes to the hiring process.

Sam Pittman reacts to Auburn firing Bryan Harsin

When Sam Pittman shook Bryan Harsin’s hand on Saturday, little did they know it would be the Auburn head coach’s last in the SEC. A new era will begin on the Plains, with the Arkansas loss being the final game coached by Harsin. Changes throughout the entire staff have now changed and the Tigers will look different come next year’s matchup in Fayetteville. 

Pittman was asked what he thought about Auburn letting Harsin go, saying it’s never something you want to see in the coaching world. However, he did say Harsin would get back into a “real nice job” if he pleased. You could tell there was a respect between the two, despite only playing each other twice.

“You hate for anybody to get let go,” Pittman said. “It’s part of our business. I think the average is just a little over three years of us guys in this league. I know he did it the way he wanted to do it and worked extremely hard. I just hate for anybody to get let go. 

“I don’t know the situation but I am sure he’ll be fine. He’s a really fine coach and if he elects to coach again, he’ll find a real nice job.”

Harsin and Pittman split the two games played against one another, both coming on the road. Prior to their SEC stops, the two never faced off, with Harsin mainly out West as a head coach, while Pittman was an assistant coach in the SEC.