John Cohen, Auburn swinging for fences in latest coaching search leak

The Tigers are going after some major names.

Auburn Daily Staff | Nov 18, 2022

John Cohen, Auburn swinging for fences in latest coaching search leak /

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Auburn Tigers

Go big or go home, John Cohen.

Auburn University is in the midst of a search for their next head football coach. With less than two weeks left in the regular season, rumors and whispers surrounding the search have started to heat up.

The candidates that have emerged since Cohen's hiring and firing of former Auburn coach Bryan Harsin have been intriguing but nothing has stood out as a potential "splash" type of hire.

Outside of the lead candidate, of course.

Lane Kiffin is the coach Auburn wants. They have the money to get him, the better resources, etc. A move from Kiffin would almost entirely depend on his value of Auburn's resources relative to Ole Miss' as well as his desire to, well, move after a short stint like he always has throughout his career.

Steven Godfrey of Split Zone Duo recently lamented over Auburn's list of candidates and noted that there were no big time names the Tigers were pursuing.

"This is a BAD list," Godfrey said on a Wednesday podcast ($ Patreon). "Where is the big scare name here guys? Where is the name that is probably way out of your grasp that makes your job feel (expletive) big? Where is 'Lincoln Riley to LSU?' Where is the home run swing that you are not going to (expletive) connect on, but that's designed to elevate the perception of your program during this time? This list sucks!"

For reference, this is the list that Godfrey walked through on his podcast (in no particular order):

Lane Kiffin, Dave Clawson, Matt Rhule, Hugh Freeze and Sonny Dykes. All names that have either been circling for a while or have just recently entered the ring.

"Where the (expletive) is Luke Fickell, James Franklin and Dabo Swinney?"

Since Godfrey's comments, news surrounding both Franklin and Swinney has leaked - according to 247Sports, Franklin has now emerged as a candidate for the opening. Both of their representatives have been in contact with Auburn. In fact, Swinney's camp was having discussions with the Tigers last weekend.

Cohen is pursing Lane Kiffin first. If he does not get him, the order of the line behind him is not particularly clear.

Here's a look at the coaches we believe are being considered/are having discussions with Auburn. In no particular order.

Note that this does not mean we are saying Auburn is currently hiring or will hire any of these coaches.

Lane Kiffin - Ole Miss

Record at Ole Miss: 23-10

Overall Record: 84-43

Head coaching experience: Oakland Raiders, Tennessee, USC, Florida Atlantic, Ole Miss

Other experience: Fresno State (assistant), Colorado State (GA), Jacksonville Jaguars (DQC), USC (TE, WR, PGC, OC), Alabama (OC/QB)

Hugh Freeze - Liberty

Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze looks towards his team during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. Mississippi won 27-14. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) — AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis

Record at Liberty: 34-13

Overall Record: 75-45

Head coaching experience: Lambuth, Arkansas State, Ole Miss, Liberty

Other experience: Ole Miss (TE), Arkansas State (OC)

Dan Lanning - Oregon

Record at Oregon: 8-2

Overall Record: 8-2

Head coaching experience: Oregon

Other experience: Pittsburgh (GA), Arizona State (GA/RC), Sam Houston State (DB), Alabama (GA), Memphis (ILB), Georgia (DC/OLB)

Dabo Swinney - Clemson

Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney looks on during warm ups before an NCAA college football game against the Furman Paladins in Clemson, S.C., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman) — AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Record at Clemson: 159-37

Overall Record: 159-37

Head coaching experience: Clemson

Other experience: Alabama (GA, WR, TE), Clemson (WR, AHC, OC)

Luke Fickell - Cincinnati

Record at Cincinnati: 56-17

Overall Record: 62-24

Head coaching experience: Ohio State (Interim), Cincinatti

Other experience: Ohio State (GA, ST, LB, DC, Interim HC), Akron (DL)

Dave Clawson - Wake Forest

Record at Wake Forest: 57-52

Overall Record: 147-131

Head coaching experience: Fordham, Richmond, Bowling Green, Wake Forest

Other experience: Albany (GA), Buffalo (DB, QB, RB), Lehigh (RB, OC), Villanova (OC), Tennessee (OC)

Ryan Day - Ohio State

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day against Rutgers during an NCAA football game, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) — AP Photo/Noah K. Murray

Record at Ohio State: 44-4

Overall Record: 44-4

Head coaching experience: Ohio State

Other experience: New Hampshire (TE), Boston College (GA, OC, QB), Florida (GA), Temple (OC, WR), Philadelphia Eagles (QB), San Fransisco 49ers (QB), Ohio State (OC, QB, Interim HC)

James Franklin - Penn State

Record at Penn State: 75-36

Overall Record: 99-51

Head coaching experience: Vanderbilt, Penn State

Other experience: Kutztown (WR), East Stroudsburg (DB), Rosklide Kings (OC), James Madison (WR), Washington State (TE), Idaho State (WR), Maryland (WR), Green Bay Packers (WR), Kansas State (OC, QB), Maryland (AHC, OC, QB)

Matt Rhule - Carolina Panthers

Record at Carolina: 11-27

Overall Record: 47-43 (NCAA), 11-27 (NFL)

Head coaching experience: Temple, Baylor, Carolina Panthers

Other experience: Penn State (Assistant), Albright (LB), Buffalo (DL), UCLA (DL), Western Carolina (ST, LB, AHC), Temple (DL, QB, RC, TE, OC), New York Giants (AOL)