Auburn announces 8-person advisory group to assist with coaching search
Now that Gus Malzahn has been fired, Auburn is looking ahead and beginning its search for a new head coach.
It’s been a while since the Tigers last conducted a coaching search, as Malzahn was hired on Dec. 4, 2012. But they’ll now be looking for somebody new to lead the program.
On Tuesday, Auburn director of athletics Allen Greene announced in a statement that the school has “identified a search firm and advisory group to assist with the search.” The advisory group will consist of administration and alumni.
Here are the eight members of Auburn’s advisory group:
Allen Greene; Director of Athletics
Lieutenant General Ron Burgess; Executive Vice President, Auburn University
Dr. Beverly Marshall, Auburn Faculty Athletic Representative
Tim Jackson; Executive Associate AD, Auburn Athletics
Bo Jackson; Auburn Football Letterman, 1985 Heisman Trophy Winner
Quentin Riggins; Auburn Football Letterman, Auburn Board of Trustee
Randy Campbell; Auburn Football Letterman
Michelle McKenna; Chief Information Officer, National Football League
Malzahn was fired after Auburn went 6-4 this season. Although the Tigers beat Mississippi State in their regular-season finale this past week, they had lost the previous two games to Alabama and Texas A&M.
Over eight seasons at Auburn, Malzahn led the team to a 68-35 record.
It’s hard to believe they would fire Gus without someone lined up.
It’s probably because of the respect they had for Malzahn. After all, you have to talk to Coaches in secret behind his back to achieve that. JMO
Shouldn’t be surprised. Virtually same committee with no Dye or Sullivan on there.
Decision is already made. Going to be Steele because thats who Harbert wants. End of discussion.
Committee is nothing more than a smoke screen. And a poor one at that. They trot the same names out there every time. And like throwing old players like Bo, Randy, and Quinton out each time we got a spot open, thinking we we will get excited just they say so, doesn’t cut it
Its not surprising. Just typical. All we want to do is beat Alabama. Bobby Bowden said so himself years ago.
Until we got over this mentality and hire someone proven will look people like Ray Harbert, Jimmy Raine and others in the face and say “This is Auburn’s program. We are going build championships here. Get on board or get out.”
What do think Saban did? Now look where they are.
Satisfied with mediocrity? Keep going just like this.
Spot on!
I was going to say essentially the same thing – why form a committee or pretend to engage in a search? The deep-pocket boosters like Harbert will likely make the call. Until Auburn can get past that and separate the athletic decision-making from alum $$$, the road will be full of land mines. Just ask Tennessee.
Hiring Kevin Steele would be the stupidest thing AU could do. If that is Harbert’s decision it is a perfect example of why you keep the decision making in the hands of the AD.
This is so:
AUBURN.
{laugh} I was gonna say …
Seriously though, advisory groups usually result in a comprised decision. This is not a good omen. :(
You know, we hired a good quality AD. Checks all the right boxes. He hired what appears to be an excellent football coach at Buffalo who has 6 NC at Div 3 level. 6. The program has been to bowl games last 2 years running. Undefeated this year. He also hired Nate Oates up there (I think).
I think Mr Greene knows how to hire coaches. Yet we surround him with not one but 2 search committees. Comprised of the usual suspects.
I have never understood why we can’t hire somebody to do a job and then let do it.
That is just plain bad management.
I agree. I presume this “advisory committee” is supposed to “advise” AD Greene…as if he can’t be trusted to do his job without being helped. I too don’t understand all that.
I think Steele may get the nod. He wasn’t very successful in his first stint as a head coach. However, since then he has worked for some of the top names in college football. Bobby Bowden, Dabo Swinney and Nick Saban.
If he hires the right coordinators he could have a chance.
You don’t fire a guy that pretty much, from his history, can assure you of 8-9 wins a season, because he is not winning enough. Then hire a 62 year old man with only one head coaching job, not a major one, that he won an average of 2 games a season. If Steele is hired the new motto will be his face and THIS IS AU under it.
If Auburn is going to sacrifice a recruiting class, they need to make sure they hire the right guy. If it’s a done deal like was said yesterday, they are wasting critical time.
That’s my thought as well. The only thing that may give them the idea of more time, is this “special” year. They aren’t going to land any elite recruits this late regardless of who they hire. But, they can still return some seniors and players can transfer in January without having to sit next year. Those two changes will give the next coach a reprieve if he can keep players from bolting.
I am shocked that Auburn would fire a coach 4 days before signing day. I’m even more surprised that they didn’t have a gentleman’s agree with the successor before the firing.
With the pitiful class Gus had it didn’t matter. If they did it after signing day there would be a lot of mad players. This way the new coach has a chance to cherry pick the leftovers and get a decent class. As long as it isn’t Steel. That would make most people laugh their @ss off.
Most of us have resigned ourselves to that possibility. It will be Steele, with Mike Bobo as OC.
Harbert wanted it done this way. Steele is apparently quite a schmoozer with the boosters.
What we are doing makes no sense. This will set us back at least 5 years. Doesn’t make a bit of difference what anybody’s else thinks or wants.
This is what that spoiled brat Harbert wants and he is going to get it. We ought to know better after that contract of Gus’s he hung us on.
They have a chance to get Freeze at a bargain basement price. He’s got the one thing that Auburn fans covet the most. Multiple victories over Saban.
Bargain basement price? No. He will get paid big bucks wherever he goes. His stock is only rising at this point.
multiple = 2…one of which was vacated by the NCAA. So, only one in the record book.
Freeze would be another in a long line of Auburn mistakes; winning seasons but not good enough to compete every year at a championship level.
I think Cristobal is our best chance at getting there
As a Bama guy who looks forward to the Iron Bowl each year I want Auburn to be competitive. It makes for a more interesting IB. Right now the focus of Auburn should be someone with an offensive background. But please note, I did not say a high school offensive background. And you commenters above who point out that Auburn has an AD who’s being neutered are spot on.