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Auburn finalizing deal with Hugh Freeze to be next head coach

Stephen Samraby:Steve Samra11/28/22

SamraSource

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(Hitt/Getty Images)

Auburn is swinging big and landing the man it believes can turn the football program around, as the Tigers are set to hire Liberty coach Hugh Freeze, Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated reported. On3’s Matt Zenitz has confirmed the news.

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Freeze has a wealth of experience in the SEC, spending five seasons as coach of the Ole Miss Rebels before being dismissed amid numerous recruiting violations as well as a scandal involving escorts. Still, the on-field product was impressive, and Freeze even found a way to defeat Nick Saban, something that’ll be expected of him on The Plains.

Freeze took a couple seasons off after being fired and took over Liberty ahead of the 2019 season.

Now, Auburn is looking to Freeze to get its program back on track, which has been through a roller coaster after firing Gus Malzahn and turning to Bryan Harsin, who simply didn’t work out with the Tigers.

Harsin never did find quite the level of success his predecessor enjoyed, finishing with a 9-12 overall record on The Plains.

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Season one did not go to plan, even after a solid 6-2 start. Auburn lost its final five games, including a Birmingham Bowl defeat against Houston. The worst of them all may have been against Mississippi State at Jordan-Hare Stadium, blowing a 25-point lead. Even a close Iron Bowl loss vs. Alabama felt like a lost opportunity for Harsin.

Flash forward to the 2022 season and after the Week 3 loss against Penn State, the relationship seemed beyond repair and only got worse as the losses piled up, including four straight in SEC play and Harsin’s final game — a 41-27 defeat to Arkansas.

After Harsin’s departure, Carnell “Cadillac” Williams filled in as interim coach, but it’s evident the Tigers are valuing experience in their choice of Freeze..

Nevertheless, Auburn faithful were more than ready for a change, and they now have a new athletic director in John Cohen and head football coach in Hugh Freeze.