Auburn wide receiver coach Ike Hilliard will not be retained
New Auburn coach Hugh Freeze will not retain wide receiver coach Ike Hilliard after one full season, Auburn Live’s Justin Hokanson has learned.
Hilliard has been let go effective immediately.
Hilliard took over as receivers coach after a carousel within the staff. First, Cornelius Williams was fired after four games in 2021 during Bryan Harsin’s first year as head coach. Then, offensive analyst Eric Kiesau took over as receivers coach. Keisau would be promoted to offensive coordinator after the 2021 season. Then came Hilliard.
Hilliard’s football career as player and coach
Hilliard has had an illustrious football career. He played under Steve Spurrier at the University of Florida. He was then drafted 7th overall in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the New York Giants and played there from 1997-2004. Hilliard would then play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005-2008.
Hilliard then coached for the Miami Dolphins, the Washington Redskins, the Buffalo Bills, and the Pittsburgh Steelers before taking his first college coaching job at Auburn.
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Recruiting under Hilliard
Hilliard got his first taste of college football recruiting at Auburn. His name and career have certainly helped him with relevance, but much of the process was new, understandably.
Hilliard was working to finish out his first class with the class of 2023. He had a hand in Auburn’s two receiver commitments: 4-star Adam Hopkins and 3-star Daquayvious Sorey. Four-star receiver Karmello English was also committed at one time, but has since decommitted.
Wide receiver job officially open
Auburn, now under the direction of Freeze, is in the market for a new wide receiver coach.
With four transfer portal entries at receiver during the season, Auburn will need to move quickly in order to help rebuild the position from the portal. Securing commitments in the 2023 recruiting class will also be a priority.
