This offseason, former Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze took the head coaching position at Liberty, even though many expected him to land somewhere as a Power 5 offensive coordinator.

Indeed, with openings at schools like Auburn, Alabama and Tennessee, it seemed likely that Freeze would wind up at one of those three positions, but it never came to fruition.

During an interview with “3HL” on Nashville’s 104.5 on Tuesday, Freeze discussed the interest he got from the Vols and Tigers, saying he and Gus Malzahn are close friends (quotes via KnoxNews.com):

“The interest that I received from some of those schools was incredible for me at this point in my life,” he said. “I was prepared to take any of those should they all come through. I’d be lying if I was saying there wasn’t one that I really, really have always kind of thought about and dreamed about and all those things. But for whatever reason, at this time, some things don’t work out on other people’s ends.

“I’ve always talked with Gus about working with him. He’s been one of the most loyal friends through a difficult season in my life, and he just never wavered and just fought for me. I think he’s a heck of a football coach, too.”

As for Alabama, he said he felt the Crimson Tide may have already had their guy in mind:

Either way, Freeze seems happy to be at Liberty for now, even if this stop may not last very long before bigger jobs come calling.