Auburn football head coaching hot board 3.0: Names to watch as search hits final stage
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Auburn athletic director John Cohen has a goal of naming Auburn football’s next head coach shortly after the Iron Bowl. With Auburn’s rivalry game with Alabama less than two weeks away, time is quickly fading away.
Virginia Tech became the first Power Four program to hire its next head coach, as the Hokies agreed to a deal with former Penn State head coach James Franklin on Monday. Another target, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, is in the mix to become the next head coach at Florida or LSU, and is reportedly has a deadline to reaffirm his commitment to Ole Miss, or accept another job.
With Franklin and Kiffin off the board, where does Auburn’s search turn? Could John Cohen stay local and remove the interim tag from DJ Durkin? Or will he step out of the box and hire a hot name? Here is a look at the top five names to watch as Auburn football’s head coaching search begins its final turn.
DJ Durkin, Auburn interim head coach
DJ Durkin has a leg up on every candidate as the interim head coach. In his first game, Auburn showed a spark offensively and played with high energy despite a road loss to Vanderbilt. Durkin says that he is treating this period as an “interview,” while Auburn AD John Cohen says that Durkin is a quality candidate. Durkin’s performance over the next two weeks will determine if he is the right candidate to take over as the Tigers’ next head coach.
Jon Sumrall, Tulane head coach
Even before Hugh Freeze was fired, Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall was considered a name to watch to become Auburn’s next head coach. Pro Football Focus recently pinned Sumrall as the top candidate to become Auburn’s next head coach, with Max Chadwick citing his ability to build quality rosters despite having limited resources as a key reason for him to be the focus of Auburn’s coaching search.
However, Sumrall is also in the mix for other jobs, including Arkansas and LSU, and could be a player in other searches should coaches such as Ole Miss, if the Rebels’ current head coach, Lane Kiffin, decide to pursue another opportunity. If Auburn wants to land Sumrall, it must act quickly to strike up a deal.
Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri head coach
Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz has been linked to the Auburn opening due to his history as the quality control coach for Auburn during the Tigers’ 2010 national championship season. Drinkwitz has found success everywhere he has gone, most recently leading Missouri to 45 wins in six seasons. Drinkwitz is an offensive-minded coach and could be the best option for Auburn if it wants to keep DJ Durkin as defensive coordinator.
Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State head coach
It seems as if Kenny Dillingham is leaning toward staying with his alma mater, Arizona State, but he is still a name to watch for as long as the coaching search is open. Dillingham, who served as Auburn’s offensive coordinator during Bo Nix’s freshman season in 2019, led Arizona State to the College Football Playoff last season and is considered to be one of the top young coaches in the game. If he decides to take his career to the next level, Auburn is one of the top programs to watch for a landing spot.
Brent Key, Georgia Tech head coach
Brent Key has the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in a great position to win the ACC and possibly grab a College Football Playoff berth. Key, in his third full season as Georgia Tech’s head coach, has won 27 games and is considered a candidate for several openings across the Power Four. He appears to be committed to coaching his alma mater, but if he were to leave for another job, Penn State may be the best suitor.
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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn head coaching hot board 3.0
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