High Auburn teaching candidates: Deion Sanders, Lane Kiffin, and extra

Bryan Fischer

Faculty Soccer Author

The teaching carousel can typically get just a little off-axis and spin in wildly completely different instructions over the course of a school soccer season. That’s what results in surprises like Wisconsin letting go of Paul Chryst mid-season, or TCU exhibiting the door to Gary Patterson in the midst of final yr.

However there are different occasions when issues are merely fait accompli in the case of firing a head coach. Such was the case on Monday when Auburn lastly made the inevitable announcement that they had been letting head coach Bryan Harsin go after lower than two seasons.

The Tigers had been coming off a 41-27 residence loss to Arkansas on Saturday that dropped Harsin to 9-12 over his brief tenure and simply 4-9 in SEC play. On prime of the disappointing outcomes on the sphere, the previous Boise State coach (who went 69-19 with the Broncos and had a New 12 months’s Six bowl win) by no means fairly appeared like a cultural match for one of the vital demanding jobs within the nation.

Between Harsin and predecessor Gus Malzahn, the Tigers have paid roughly $37 million in buyouts to simply two head coaches previously 687 days — almost $54,900 per day in that point span. Add in assistant salaries and the price of hiring a brand new workers, and the determine shoots even larger. That’s a mirrored image on simply what sort of hectic and pressure-packed job it may be on the Plains — but in addition underscores the college’s dedication to profitable on the highest degree after the earlier 5 head coaches led Auburn to both a nationwide and/or SEC title.

Associated:

• Auburn fires head coach Bryan Harsin
• Evaluating Deion Sanders' teaching choices, together with Auburn

The choice to maneuver on from Harsin additionally marks a near-complete management turnover with the Tigers that, kind of, clears the decks for a reboot that goes far past the soccer workforce however is mainly centered on making the game a winner once more. College president Chris Roberts was employed in February, and it's extensively reported that Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen shall be taking up the identical place with AU within the coming days.

What path may the Tigers go in changing Harsin? In what is bound to be one of the vital mentioned job openings of the 2022 carousel, here's a have a look at potential candidates to take over at Auburn:

Deion Sanders, Jackson State head coach

Prime to the Plains? There’s a definite chance of it occurring, and Sanders has indicated he would pay attention to greater jobs like this one. He’s shortly circled JSU right into a marquee program on the FCS degree, going 23-5 in three seasons as a head coach. On prime of that, he’s confirmed he can herald gamers on the highest degree after beating out his alma mater Florida State for No. 1 general recruit Travis Hunter final yr. Don’t low cost the coach’s reference to Below Armour, a notable college sponsor, both. On prime of the plain victory in the course of the introductory press convention that hiring Sanders would symbolize, his capacity to inject a little bit of swagger into this system that has been lacking simply such a factor the previous few years is perhaps a good larger win. It might additionally add a little bit of spice going towards Aflac business co-host Nick Saban throughout the state as effectively.

Evaluating Deion Sanders' teaching future

RJ Younger explains why he believes Deion Sanders will NOT depart Jackson State for the foreseeable future.

Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss head coach

If the college desires somebody with confirmed head teaching expertise within the SEC, Kiffin ought to be the primary identify on the decision sheet. He’s gotten the Rebels to a New 12 months’s Six bowl and has the workforce off to its greatest begin for the reason that Nineteen Sixties. There are apparent parallels to hiring Tommy Tuberville from Ole Miss again within the day, however Kiffin would convey an thrilling offense and the power to recruit towards one of the best, too. His utilization of the Switch Portal could be an asset in turning issues round shortly, and the mixture of that and the Tigers’ NIL struggle chest would make for a fairly formidable opponent for the remainder of the SEC. There aren't many strikes that would lure Kiffin out of Oxford in the intervening time, however the capacity to needle Saban at Alabama’s biggest rival is perhaps simply as engaging because the hefty payday.

Hugh Freeze, Liberty head coach

Freeze just lately signed an extension with the Flames, however the buyout on that deal shouldn't be anticipated to get in the way in which of a departure to a spot like Auburn. Notably, he is likely one of the uncommon coaches to beat Alabama in back-to-back video games — one thing that carries added weight at a spot just like the Plains. His offenses are entertaining, and he is aware of what it takes to assemble a roster that may compete for convention and nationwide titles from his stint at Ole Miss. He’s elevated Liberty right into a top-25 workforce and gone 33-12 general whereas juggling the schedule of a soccer impartial. One complicating issue for Freeze is the potential for the convention workplace not trying too favorably on such a rent, however maybe sufficient distance from a scandal with the Rebels would make directors extra amenable to the thought.

Matt Rhule, former Carolina Panthers head coach

Rhule’s identify is sure to give you nearly each faculty opening after performing turnaround miracles at Temple and Baylor. Auburn received’t be fairly as massive of a rebuilding job as both of these two, however will convey a unique degree of strain in comparison with even an NFL gig. Rhule has performed effectively just about in every single place he’s been on the faculty degree, shaking off his Northern roots to thrive within the coronary heart of Texas and parlay that into a professional job. He’s nonetheless being paid by the Panthers, which might be a pleasant cherry on prime for Auburn given the quantity the Tigers have dedicated to buyouts, too.

Is Baker Mayfield in charge for Matt Rhule's firing?

Shannon Sharpe takes a have a look at what went mistaken in Carolina.

Dave Doeren, NC State head coach

Doeren might be one of many few coaches with out SEC expertise that will get a glance from the Tigers after just about maxing out what the Wolfpack can do, profitable no less than eight video games in 4 of the previous 5 years earlier than this one (NC State is presently within the AP High 25 at 6-2). He’s a superb developer of expertise, particularly within the trenches, and has defenses that would slot in effectively contained in the convention. He’s flirted with openings like Tennessee previously and might be a veteran possibility that will get the Tigers again on monitor to being a constant program.

Jamie Chadwell, Coastal Carolina head coach

Chadwell is 29-4 previously three seasons at Coastal, elevating this system into one of many Solar Belt’s greatest and into the AP High 25 frequently. His offenses are extraordinarily enjoyable to observe and his variations of unfold possibility seems to be could be fairly the curveball within the SEC. The Tennessee native has received in every single place he’s been, however Auburn must be snug given his lack of SEC or Energy 5 expertise.

Charles Huff, Marshall head coach

Huff led the Thundering Herd to a bowl sport in his first season and has them aggressive of their first yr within the Solar Belt. He overlapped at Mississippi State as an assistant below incoming AD John Cohen and was extensively thought to be among the best recruiters within the nation as Alabama’s affiliate head coach.

Kevin Steele, Miami defensive coordinator

Steele has been synonymous with the SEC, main gritty protection the previous 20 years at stops like Alabama, LSU and Tennessee. He was briefly Auburn’s interim head coach after Gus Malzahn was let go and has head teaching expertise at Baylor. Steele is shut with a number of key figures at Auburn and can possible garner loads of assist if an enormous identify is skittish over the state of affairs across the program.

Todd Monken, Georgia defensive coordinator

File this below serving to your individual program whereas additionally hurting a rival. Monken is a former head coach at Southern Miss and has in depth NFL expertise. He additionally has been a veteran within the SEC, with stops at LSU and in serving to lead the Bulldogs to the nationwide title a yr in the past. His offenses are recognized for the power to create massive performs, and he’s recruited at a excessive degree below Kirby Sensible, too. 

Bobby Petrino, Missouri State head coach

If Auburn actually solely cares about profitable, may reviving Petrino’s profession within the SEC make sense? He led Arkansas to a top-five rating earlier than issues got here crashing down in Fayetteville and made Lamar Jackson a Heisman winner at Louisville. He was an OC on the Plains years in the past and has been critically related to the highest job at AU twice earlier than (together with, infamously, the scandal often known as JetGate). May the third time be the attraction? Nothing at Auburn will ever shock and that features the return of Petrino.

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Bryan Fischer is a school soccer author for FOX Sports activities. He has been overlaying faculty athletics for almost 20 years at retailers resembling NBC Sports activities, CBS Sports activities, Yahoo! Sports activities and NFL.com amongst others. Observe him on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.

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