Hugh Freeze named Derrick Nix Auburn’s next offensive coordinator on Wednesday, Jan. 17 – the third addition to the on-field staff this offseason. Nix will also coach running backs for the Tigers. The move was confirmed by Auburn on Wednesday afternoon.
Nix reunites with Freeze after spending the past 16 seasons at Ole Miss – with five seasons, 2012-16, as the running backs coach under the current Auburn head coach.
“I’m very excited for this opportunity at Auburn and to get back on staff with Coach Freeze. Having worked with him before, I have a strong understanding of what he wants offensively as well as culture wise,” Nix said. “Fundamentally, we want to be a fast, physical and fearless offensive scoring unit. I’m also looking forward to rejoining Coach Austin after working with him at Ole Miss for two years. Growing up in the state of Alabama, I understand what Auburn is about. I have vivid memories as a kid following the likes of Bo Jackson, Stan White and the undefeated team in 1993. I’m excited to be a part of the rich tradition of Auburn football and can’t wait to get started.”
Alongside Freeze in Oxford, Mississippi, Nix led the running back room with a variety of players with different styles and strengths at his disposal. This by-committee approach produced great success in several of Freeze’s best seasons at Ole Miss.
“I’m really excited to reunite with Derrick here at Auburn,” Freeze said. “He is an outstanding recruiter and coach who has nearly two decades of experience in the Southeastern Conference. Derrick knows the level of excellence required to be successful in this league and I know he’s looking forward to the opportunity to help develop a winning program at Auburn.
Nix helped the 2015 Ole Miss squad lead the league and rank inside the top 10 nationally in scoring, with 40.8 points per game, and total offense, with 517.8 yards per game. The Rebels eclipsed 600 yards of total offense in three games, a school record, and had more than 200 yards rushing in six contests.
The 2013 team saw similar national and SEC success. Nix helped the Ole Miss offense rank top five in the SEC and top 25 nationally in total offense, with 473.3 yards per game – which also broke the school record at the time.
In 2012, Freeze’s first season at Ole Miss, Nix helped the Rebel run game increase its average by 40 yards from 2011 to 2012 – finishing fifth in the SEC with 173.8 rushing yards per game.
Most recently under Lane Kiffin, Nix transitioned into a new role as the assistant head coach and wide receivers coach beginning with the 2020 season following 12 years leading the running backs.
During Nix’s first season as wide receivers coach he guided Elijah Moore to an All-American campaign. Moore led the nation in receiving yards per game, 149.1, and receptions per game, 10.8, on his way to being named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award – given to the best wide receiver in college football. Following his spectacular season, Moore was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.
Nix played as a running back at Southern Miss from 1998-2002 and was the first Golden Eagle to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his freshman and sophomore seasons – and the only Conference USA player ever to rush for 1,000 yards or more in three seasons.
Freeze will look to finalize the rest of his second staff at Auburn within the next few weeks with offseason winter workouts and spring practice coming up. Nix replaces Philip Montgomery, who was fired after one season as Auburn's offensive coordinator, and Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, who resigned after five years as the Tigers' running backs coach.
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Patrick is a sophomore from Auburn, Alabama, double majoring in journalism and marketing. He started with The Plainsman in fall 2022.
