Cadillac Williams deflects question on candidacy for full-time head coaching job
Interim head coach Carnell Williams has several weeks to lead the Auburn Tigers but when it comes to what happens next, the former running back doesn’t want to speculate about his future. Asked about his potential candidacy for the head coaching job full-time following Bryan Harsin’s firing, Williams deflected.
“Honestly, all I’m trying to do is win a football game this week and do my best for the players, the staff and the Auburn family. Honest, I’m taking it one day at a time, sometimes literally one minute at a time,” Williams said on Wednesday. “I’m not focused on all the ‘what if.'”
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Cadillac Williams has deep ties to the university that could make him a fan favorite to win the job, however, he faced a tough end to the season. He takes over the team on a four-game losing skid. Auburn’s remaining games are against Mississippi State (on the road), Texas A&M, Western Kentucky and Alabama (on the road).
Auburn returns to the field Saturday at Mississippi State. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET with a broadcast on ESPN2. It will be a new-look interim coaching staff that gets the team ready to play after some drastic changes this week.
Auburn reorganizes staff ahead of Week 10
Besides Williams’ move to interim head coach, Will Friend taking over the offensive coordinator role is the biggest change occurring at Auburn.
Previously the offensive line coach for the Tigers, Friend is replacing Eric Kiesau. He has been an offensive coordinator before, working with head coach Mike Bobo at Colorado State.
Helping Friend will the offensive line will be Kendall Simmons, who previously served as an offensive analyst in the program. Simmons graduated from Auburn in 2001.
Wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard will now also serve as the co-offensive coordinator to Friend.
Kiesau served as the quarterbacks coach under Harsin but Mike Hartline will now take over the spot. He previously served as an offensive analyst.
The final change is at tight end, where Joe Bernardi Jr coaches a new position group. He was previously working with Friend as an offensive line assistant coach.