Auburn is now in the running for a new head coach after firing Hugh Freeze over the weekend. However, FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt believes Auburn should temper its expectations when it comes to the quality of candidates.
During an appearance on The Next Round, Klatt offered a harsh assessment of the Auburn job. According to Klatt, Auburn doesn’t hold the same level of prestige as a program when compared to in-state rival Alabama.
Their expectations are over their skis. They aren’t even the best job in their own state,” Klatt said.
“Like to be a good job, you’ve got to be a top job, top- two to four job in your conference. They’re not even the best job in their own state. And it’s not even like close.”
Klatt continued to make the Alabama and Auburn comparisons.
“Yet the problem is, is that Auburn’s expectations are in line with Alabama’s expectations. And it’s just like, hey, like that ain’t it,” he said.
“You know, it’s like, it’s like the sister of the beauty queen that just ain’t quite, you know what I mean? Like, you know, she comes along a few years later, and she’s like, ‘My sister was the homecoming queen.’ It’s like, yeah, well, you ain’t your sister.”
While Auburn searches for Freeze’s successor, defensive coordinator/linebackers coach DJ Durkin is serving as interim head coach. The 47-year–old Durkin is in his second season with Auburn after most recently serving in the same roles for Texas A&M (2022-2023). Durkin also has head coaching experience at Maryland from 2016-2018. In that span, Durkin posted a 10-15 record with a 5-13 mark in Big Ten play.
Durkin will make his head coaching debut for Auburn on Saturday against host No. 15 Vanderbilt. The game is slated to kick off at 4 p.m. ET and will be televised on the SEC Network.
