With Hugh Freeze getting fired recently and Auburn currently depending on an interim head coach, lots of questions are swirling about who Auburn's next head coach will be. Here's who our staff thinks should be heading to the Plains next season.
Jackie Dominguez, Sports Editor: DJ Durkin
While I think Auburn would do well under any of the potential options that people bring up, I do think DJ Durkin has a great vision for this program, and his mindset has done wonders for the defense so far. He is also already familiar with the program and has earned the respect of a lot of the players, and a new coach might throw off the locker room energy. Durkin is a familiar face and will have a personal relationship with this team that will take him far. He's had great defensive stints at Texas A&M, Michigan, and Florida, and he's already transformed our defense in just under two years here. His aggressive approach to the game, combined with Derrick Nix's offensive play calling, will be just what Auburn needs to turn this program around. While he's never been a head coach, everyone has to start somewhere to become a respected head coach, and I think this is Durkin's chance to start that journey.
Reid Farris, Assistant Sports Editor: Jon Sumrall
I believe that Auburn should hire Jon Sumrall as their next head coach to try and lead their program back to national relevance. Sumrall and his mentality would bring a no-excuses winning culture to the plains. He has won at every stop along the way with a major turnaround at Troy, where he came into a Trojans program that was coming off a 5-7 season, then went 12-2 in his first season and 11-2 the next season, adding up to an astounding 23-4. With that being said, I believe that he has what it takes to truly turn around a program and bring it back to glory, which is exactly what Auburn is looking for. I think that coach Sumrall has the energy and excitement to take on a tough fan base and a tough job like Auburn's.
Rory Garvin, Sports Reporter: Kenny Dillingham
Ever since Gus Malzahn departed from the Plains in 2020, the Tigers have been searching for the man to lead the program back to the days of competing for SEC and national championships.
Following the termination of Hugh Freeze, athletic director John Cohen should be targeting one coach for the job: Kenny Dillingham from Arizona State.
It took two years for Dillingham to turn around the Sun Devils program and bring them to the College Football Playoff — somewhere Auburn has never been since its creation in 2014.
The Sun Devils were picked to finish last in the Big 12 in 2024; however, Dillingham’s squad never lost belief in him, and they rallied to win the conference, earning a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.
Dillingham is very familiar with the Auburn family, as he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Malzahn in 2019. At the helm, his offense averaged 33.2 points per game, and the Tigers finished the season 9-3. He also helped Bo Nix win SEC Rookie of the Year.
The only concern for those hoping for Auburn to reunite with Dillingham is that he’s a lifelong Sun Devils fan and graduate, and has said numerous times that it’s his “dream job” coaching in the Valley.
If Cohen and his committee have the chance to lure the 2024 AP Coach of the Year runner-up to the Plains, they have to get it done.
William Halliday, Sports Writer: Alex Golesh
Golesh earned praise during his time as offensive coordinator at Tennessee under head coach Josh Heupel, helping transform the Volunteers’ offense in Heupel’s first two seasons. He coached Heisman Trophy candidate Hendon Hooker and led an offense that averaged 46 points per game in 2022 — the best mark in the nation.
Golesh then took the head coaching job at South Florida, where he has spent the past two seasons and led the Bulls to bowl appearances each year, compiling an overall record of 21-14.
For a program that has struggled to find the end zone consistently over the past four to five seasons, hiring Golesh would represent a refreshing and exciting change of pace for a team looking to put points on the board.
Cooper Desloge, Sports Writer: James Franklin
I believe that Auburn should and will hire former Penn State head coach James Franklin as the next head coach of the Tigers. After back-to-back underwhelming hirings, the frustration and impatience amongst Auburn fans has never been greater; the Tigers cannot afford another poor hiring. Which is why James Franklin makes perfect sense- he is a proven, stable, and safe hire.
The issues with the Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze hires were that they were from non-power 4 conferences. Harsin’s coaching experience prior to arriving at Auburn was one year at Arkansas State, followed by seven years at Boise State, while Hugh Freeze was hired from Liberty (yes, he did have previous experience at Ole Miss, but it had been seven years and not in the NIL era).
The difference with hiring Franklin would be that he has proven to win a lot at the highest level. In his 12 seasons at Penn State and in the Big 10, Franklin went 104 - 45 with 6 double-digit win seasons and top 10 AP poll finishes, wins in the Fiesta, Cotton, and Rose bowls, and is coming off a 2024 season where the Nittany Lions won 13 total games and appeared in the CFP semifinals. Simply put, Franklin has proven his ability to win at the highest level against the toughest competition, something Auburn has struggled to do for years.
James Franklin would be a no doubt slam dunk hire as the next head coach of the Auburn Tigers
Braden Hensley:, Sports Writer: John Gruden
I find Gruden to be an intriguing prospect, primarily given his success in the NFL and compatibility with young players. Gruden has an extensive record of coaching in the NFL, having coached the Oakland Raiders from 1998-2001, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2002-2008, and then returned to the Raiders from 2018-2021. During his time in the league, Gruden amassed five divisional championships, one conference championship, and a victory in Super Bowl XXXVII with the Buccaneers against the Raiders. Gruden ultimately resigned from his position with the Raiders in 2021 due to controversy surrounding emails sent between the years of 2011-2018, including racist, misogynistic, and homophobic commentary. Gruden and his lawyers have since filed motions against the NFL alleging that the league leaked his emails intentionally in order to have him removed from his position.
Although he has never coached at the college level before and has not coached since 2021, Gruden has remained active in the football world, beginning his own YouTube channel. On this channel, Gruden discusses football in general, specific ongoing matchups, and even interviews current players, including Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller, New York Giants and former Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, and Steelers quarterback Will Howard, who recently won the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship with Ohio State. Gruden's compatibility with young players makes me believe he may do well in a college coaching position, and his energetic and passionate personality may draw in recruits and transfer student-athletes.
It is unclear at this point whether Auburn has any interest in Gruden, especially considering their most recent head coach also had questionable off-the-field concerns prior to his hiring, but Gruden certainly has interest in the position. Speaking at the University of Georgia, Gruden proclaimed, "I want to coach again. I'd die to coach in the SEC. I would love it. I would f---ing love it."
While Auburn may choose to steer away from candidates with past concerns, such as Gruden's, I believe his track record and compatibility with young players make him a worthy candidate to consider to become Auburn football's next frontman.
Tyler Cox, Sports Writer: James Franklin
Despite garnering a bit of a negative reputation, I believe James Franklin would be a great fit for Auburn as the next head coach. He has had great success at Penn State, going 104-45 in 12 seasons. He would give Auburn a higher floor and will recruit well as he has done at Penn State and Vanderbilt. He has experience in the SEC already, coaching for Vanderbilt going 24-15 in three seasons. He is a proven head coach, which is what Auburn need instead of experimenting with coaches who just coached outside the Power 4 conferences.
Lila Weitz, Sports Writer: Fran Brown
Fran Brown would be a great choice to be Auburn’s next football head coach. He has proven that he has the ability to recruit top talent from both the North and the South, which would give Auburn an advantage in recruiting top players from all over the country. He brings in strong connections from the Northeast due to his New Jersey roots, which would expand Auburn’s recruiting horizons, and his experience as a former SEC coordinator at Georgia is proof that he knows what it takes to win in this competitive conference. Currently serving as the head coach at Syracuse, Brown has proven his ability to build strong programs and elevate team performance in a short time, with his team being 10-3 in his first year as head coach in 2024 and winning the Holiday Bowl. While Syracuse’s record this year hasn’t been as sharp, that was largely due to a season-ending injury to their starting quarterback. Despite that setback, Brown has already recruited two excellent quarterbacks and has instilled a strong work ethic in his players. He emphasizes his “D.A.R.T.” philosophy: being Detailed, Accountable, Relentless, and Tough. D.A.R.T reflects the kind of culture Auburn values. His youthful energy, family-oriented personality, and well-respected reputation amongst his players and peers make him a leader players want to play for. Because of his youth and early stage as a head coach, he also would not command a large buyout, making him a smart investment for the football program. With his proven recruiting ability, he could help Auburn attract talent who may otherwise choose ACC schools, which would strengthen the program’s competitiveness and foster Auburn’s success for years to come.
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