Auburn has hired Hugh Freeze to become the Tigers’ next head football coach, the university announced Monday following the end of its 2022 season. Freeze, 53, last coached at Liberty having led the Flames to a 34-15 record since 2019.
Conversations between the parties began weeks ago and continued through the weekend after Auburn’s 49-27 loss to No. 7 Alabama in the Iron Bowl on Saturday. Freeze signed a memorandum of understanding with Auburn on Monday, per the Associated Press. His contract will pay him $39 million over six years, an average of $6.5 million per season, according to ESPN.
“First, I want to acknowledge Cadillac Williams for the incredible job he did as interim head coach. The impact he made is immeasurable and cannot be overstated,” said Freeze in a statement. “Secondly, Auburn is one of the preeminent programs in college football and I’m very appreciative of President Roberts and John Cohen for this opportunity at Auburn. I’ve been fortunate to witness first-hand how special Auburn is during my time as a head coach in the SEC and while visiting my daughter Jordan who attended Auburn and currently lives in the community. I can’t wait to work with our student-athletes and the Auburn family to bring championships back to the Plains.”
Auburn is finalizing a deal to hire Liberty coach Hugh Freeze, sources tell @SINow.
Freeze would return to the SEC, where in 2017 Ole Miss fired him amid NCAA and personal scandal. In 12 years as a college head coach, he’s had one losing season.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 28, 2022
Breaking: Hugh Freeze will become the next head coach at Auburn, sources told @ClowESPN.
He will be the Tigers’ third head coach in four years.
More: https://t.co/NlnFM1yR84 pic.twitter.com/2tBm1O0agK
— ESPN (@espn) November 28, 2022