Auburn’s search for the next man to lead the football program is well underway after Hugh Freeze was relieved of his head coaching duties on the Plains following a 10-3 loss to Kentucky.
Athletic director John Cohen is doing his due diligence and analyzing data day in and day out on who he thinks can turn the program around. He has noted on multiple occasions that he wants to have a coach in place shortly after the Iron Bowl, which is set for November 29.
Multiple reports have indicated that Tulane’s Jon Sumrall and Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz are receiving attention, along with many others.
But interim head coach DJ Durkin is also being heavily considered.
And he’s getting a live audition with Cohen sitting front row for it all.
“I view every day here on the job as an interview,” Durkin said. “I think you’re getting a good glimpse of what I would be as a head coach here, so I just treat it that way. Certainly, there are conversations almost daily with our administration about a lot of things in the program. So that’s how it is. Our focus is solely on this team right now and preparing for a game this week, and that’s it. Those things I think will play out and handle themselves.”
Whether he’s on the Auburn sidelines sporting orange and blue next year, or not, Durkin has had a full plate the last two weeks trying to keep the Tigers’ roster intact while keeping the main focus the main focus: winning football games.
After the Tigers’ 45-38 overtime loss to Vanderbilt, Durkin noted that Auburn players were being contacted by “every coach in the country.”
“That question is probably better answered by those guys, but from our standpoint, it’s been good. Our guys have practiced really well at a high level,” Durkin said on Monday, when asked about roster management and recruiting. “I think that actions speak louder than words, and anyone can say where they are, but if you’re bought in to what’s going on and you’re still with the team and two feet in, you’re going to show them how you practice and prepare. I feel like our guys have done a great job of that.
“The recruiting class has all been positive conversations," he added. "I think everyone is waiting to see what happens and what shakes out. That’s only natural. I’d probably be doing the same thing in their shoes. You look at the strength of those guys and their bond with one another and with our coaching staff, those guys that have all hung tight and are still in there, and they’re just kind of waiting to see how this plays out, and that’s what it will be.”
Durkin said he has already learned from mistakes he made while juggling two roles – head coach and defensive coordinator - against Vanderbilt. He believes that after settling in during the bye week, things will run a lot smoother after he and his staff evaluated what went wrong.
“I do believe that it’s important that everything we do is as a team, bring it together,” Durkin said. “It’s not offense, defense, it’s just our team. We say it all the time and mean it, believe it. This is our team, it’s not any one side of the ball.”
Durkin will have two more games to get the Tigers into postseason play after missing out a season ago. A dangerous Mercer squad awaits, and Durkin knows his team cannot take them lightly.
“We’re looking forward to being at home against a very good opponent. Mercer does a tremendous job,” Durkin said.
“We’ve been game planning and preparing for this game, and that is where our focus is,” he later added. “We understand what’s coming down the road, but it has nothing to do with this weekend.”
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