Hugh Freeze and Auburn retain DB coach Zac Etheridge
AUBURN — Zac Etheridge apparently isn’t leaving Auburn anytime soon.
In a Twitter post Monday evening, the Auburn secondary coach shared a graphic that read “Here to stay.” That Tweet then was retweeted by new Tigers coach Hugh Freeze.
Sources indicate that there was very little chance Freeze wouldn’t retain Etheridge, as there’s a process to things, and Monday was the day Etheridge received his new deal and everything became official.
Since Auburn hired Freeze three weeks ago, most of the assistants under former Tigers coach Bryan Harsin have not been retained. And only last week, linebackers coach Christian Robinson was let go.
Etheridge and Cadillac Williams, who served as interim coach when Harsin was fired with four games left in the 2022 season, are the only on-field hold-overs from the Harsin era.
Both played at Auburn.
Etheridge, according to our intel, likely will coach the safeties with Wesley McGriff coaching corners. Williams coaches running backs and was promoted to associate head coach when Freeze was hired.
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Etheridge, a team captain on Auburn’s 2010 national championship team, is entering his third season at Auburn. He came to Auburn as cornerbacks coach after spending the previous two seasons at Houston.
From his official Auburn bio: “A native of Troy, Ala., Etheridge received the second annual James Owens Courage Award from Auburn in 2013. The award, named for the school’s first African-American football player, was established to honor a player who has shown courage in the face of adversity. A 2009 Auburn graduate with a degree in political science.
A four-year starter at Auburn, Etheridge broke his neck during his junior season in 2009 against Ole Miss. Nine months later, after extensive rehabilitation, Etheridge returned to the starting lineup for Auburn and captained his team along a memorable run to the national title at the end of the 2010 season, finishing second on the team with 69 tackles, intercepting three passes, and returning a fumble 47 yards for a touchdown against Arkansas.
Etheridge garnered freshman All-America status from numerous publications following the 2007 season, starting 12 of Auburn’s 13 games. He led Auburn with 75 tackles in 2008 and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2009.”
