The staff here at Auburn Undercover has
been all over this search. I'll share a few
snippets from reporting on the nationwide
coaching carousel over the last month,
particularly the developments since Friday:
- Lane Kiffin is out as Auburn's No. 1 target.
His silence via agent Jimmy Sexton as he
made It clear to Auburn he is not seriously
considering the job. He has a new deal
ready to sign at Ole Miss, and though the
state law doesn't allow contracts over four
years, his new deal is through the private
fundraising arm of Ole Miss and is
expected to include two rollovers. The
rumored figure of more than $9 million per
year is accurate.
- Hugh Freeze and his representation have
been kept in the loop on the Auburn
search and the parties have discussed the
job. He was awaiting a decision as recently
as Tuesday, a source familiar with the
discussions tell 247Sports. An offer could
come as soon as tonight after the Iron Bowl.
INSIDE THE AUBURN TIGERS
- Liberty administrators believe Freeze to
be on his way out. I'm told he last spoke to
the bosses there Friday. Liberty is playing
right now so movement on the Liberty end
could start leaking this afternoon. They
believe it's just a matter of when and not if
this weekend.
- As much as this search in the media has
focused on Lane Kiffin and Hugh Freeze,
Auburn has had informal conversations
just as they have with Freeze's reps) with
other parties. There are backups to
backups, so to speak.
- Freeze will jump at the opportunity to
coach Auburn and has already
communicated a plan for the transfer
portal and how to attack it. He is familiar
with the Tigers' roster already. He's done
his homework and is ready to hit the
ground on the Plains.
- Deion Sanders was never seriously in
consideration, and as our Colorado
247Sports website reported earlier this
week, he has been offered or a salary
and contract have at least been
communicated/shared - by the Buffaloes administration.
My good friend Carl Reed here at
247Sports should have more on that later
today as he's close to the Deion camp.
- Freeze has been interested since Day 1.
Here's my story when I caught up with him
earlier this month:
Tigers-coaching-search-Hugh-Freeze-
quotes-record-at-Liberty-196979966/
Again, trust Jason, Nathan and Phillip on
all things Auburn! They didn't jump ahead
on any news. As 247Sports has reported since Harsin was fired, Kiffin was Auburn's No. 1 target. It was up to him to make the decision.
Why is Kiffin passing on the Auburn
opportunity?
- The rumors are true: his kids love the
campus and one is planning to attend Ole
Miss in the near future.
- The promise of a rollover in his contract
along with increased support with NIL
money and a clear backing from
administrators on a unified front was too
much for him to ignore.
- Kiffin has become much more centered
and focused on family and God over the
last few years and that has steered his life
to remaining grounded and appreciative
for what he has at Ole Miss. He'd rather
not risk a new start after only three years
at Ole Miss, which gave him a second
chance to coach big-time football.
- Again, the private rollover in the contract
is a huge attraction. Still, as of this hour, he
hasn't signed it but as of last night
everyone at Ole Miss expected him to do
so.
been all over this search. I'll share a few
snippets from reporting on the nationwide
coaching carousel over the last month,
particularly the developments since Friday:
- Lane Kiffin is out as Auburn's No. 1 target.
His silence via agent Jimmy Sexton as he
made It clear to Auburn he is not seriously
considering the job. He has a new deal
ready to sign at Ole Miss, and though the
state law doesn't allow contracts over four
years, his new deal is through the private
fundraising arm of Ole Miss and is
expected to include two rollovers. The
rumored figure of more than $9 million per
year is accurate.
- Hugh Freeze and his representation have
been kept in the loop on the Auburn
search and the parties have discussed the
job. He was awaiting a decision as recently
as Tuesday, a source familiar with the
discussions tell 247Sports. An offer could
come as soon as tonight after the Iron Bowl.
INSIDE THE AUBURN TIGERS
- Liberty administrators believe Freeze to
be on his way out. I'm told he last spoke to
the bosses there Friday. Liberty is playing
right now so movement on the Liberty end
could start leaking this afternoon. They
believe it's just a matter of when and not if
this weekend.
- As much as this search in the media has
focused on Lane Kiffin and Hugh Freeze,
Auburn has had informal conversations
just as they have with Freeze's reps) with
other parties. There are backups to
backups, so to speak.
- Freeze will jump at the opportunity to
coach Auburn and has already
communicated a plan for the transfer
portal and how to attack it. He is familiar
with the Tigers' roster already. He's done
his homework and is ready to hit the
ground on the Plains.
- Deion Sanders was never seriously in
consideration, and as our Colorado
247Sports website reported earlier this
week, he has been offered or a salary
and contract have at least been
communicated/shared - by the Buffaloes administration.
My good friend Carl Reed here at
247Sports should have more on that later
today as he's close to the Deion camp.
- Freeze has been interested since Day 1.
Here's my story when I caught up with him
earlier this month:
Tigers-coaching-search-Hugh-Freeze-
quotes-record-at-Liberty-196979966/
Again, trust Jason, Nathan and Phillip on
all things Auburn! They didn't jump ahead
on any news. As 247Sports has reported since Harsin was fired, Kiffin was Auburn's No. 1 target. It was up to him to make the decision.
Why is Kiffin passing on the Auburn
opportunity?
- The rumors are true: his kids love the
campus and one is planning to attend Ole
Miss in the near future.
- The promise of a rollover in his contract
along with increased support with NIL
money and a clear backing from
administrators on a unified front was too
much for him to ignore.
- Kiffin has become much more centered
and focused on family and God over the
last few years and that has steered his life
to remaining grounded and appreciative
for what he has at Ole Miss. He'd rather
not risk a new start after only three years
at Ole Miss, which gave him a second
chance to coach big-time football.
- Again, the private rollover in the contract
is a huge attraction. Still, as of this hour, he
hasn't signed it but as of last night
everyone at Ole Miss expected him to do
so.
