Bryan Harsin’s tenure as Auburn’s head coach was short-lived, lasting less than two full seasons. After being hired in December 2020, Harsin went 9-12 overall, including a 6-7 record in his first year and a 3-5 start in Year 2, which led to his firing on October 31, 2022. His time at Auburn was marked by struggles, both on the field and with internal dynamics, as he faced significant scrutiny and controversy surrounding his leadership style and results.
His successor, Hugh Freeze, has also faced difficulties early in his tenure, leading to comparisons between the two. Some have suggested that Freeze’s struggles have caused Harsin to feel a sense of validation, as he reportedly laughs at the ongoing challenges the program is facing under new leadership.
Although Freeze was brought in to right the ship, his early results haven’t significantly improved the program, adding pressure to a storied Auburn football program that expects more competitive results in the SEC. The comparisons between Freeze and Harsin’s tenures underscore the high expectations that come with coaching at Auburn, a program with a passionate fanbase and a demanding environment for success.
Harsin’s struggles on the Plains were largely attributed to his inability to adapt fully to SEC recruiting and on-field demands, and it remains to be seen whether Freeze can overcome these same challenges.
Hugh Freeze was hired as Auburn’s 28th head coach on November 29, 2022, with a contract averaging $6.5 million per year. Despite high expectations, his results have been underwhelming thus far, and some parallels to Bryan Harsin’s tenure are emerging.
In Freeze’s first year, Auburn went 6-7, the same record Harsin posted in his debut season. As of Year 2, Freeze’s team is off to a 2-3 start, a worse beginning than Harsin’s 3-1 in his second season. This has drawn comparisons between the two coaching tenures, with Freeze underperforming relative to the expectations that come with his perceived “status” in college football.
What has made the situation messier is Freeze’s approach to the team’s struggles. He has repeatedly placed blame on the talent he inherited from the previous regime, suggesting that the players left behind are not at the standard needed to compete at a high level. This deflection of responsibility has rubbed some the wrong way, as fans and critics alike feel that Freeze should take more accountability for Auburn’s subpar performances on the field.
This stark contrast between his rhetoric and the program’s trajectory has led to growing frustrations, especially considering how quickly the administration moved on from Harsin. While Freeze is being given more leeway, likely due to his track record and the financial investment Auburn made in him, his approach to the team’s shortcomings and the lack of results may erode that goodwill over time if the situation doesn’t improve.
If Freeze continues to underperform, it raises questions about how long Auburn’s administration will allow him to remain at the helm, especially given the Tigers’ historical impatience with coaches who fail to meet expectations.
Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze’s opening statement during his Monday morning presser:
“I think you’re all aware of what we inherited”@abc3340 pic.twitter.com/Ad13PKaloc
— Johnny Congdon (@congdonsation) September 30, 2024
Since his firing from Auburn, Bryan Harsin has seemingly taken pleasure in the struggles of his successor, Hugh Freeze. Harsin, who continues to collect a large buyout from Auburn, has indirectly trolled the Tigers’ losses through social media posts that line up with Auburn’s poor performances. His motivational messages, though seemingly general, are seen by many as not-so-subtle digs at the program that let him go.
Most recently, after Auburn’s loss to California, Harsin shared photos from his trip to Los Angeles for a Chargers game. In response to his posts, a popular account on X (formerly Twitter), Three Year Letterman, took a jab at Hugh Freeze, referring to him as a “false prophet.” The comment was in reference to the high expectations Freeze faced when taking over the Tigers but has so far failed to meet. While Harsin hasn’t directly attacked Freeze, his well-timed posts and interactions with fans on social media keep the narrative alive that he is enjoying watching Auburn struggle under its new coach.
This adds to the narrative that Harsin, despite his unceremonious departure, is still a presence in Auburn’s orbit, at least in the minds of fans and social media observers. His actions and timing seem to mock the administration’s decision to replace him, all while he continues to be paid by the university.
“Who’s got it better than us…Nobody!” -Coach Harbaugh @chargers @Disneyland pic.twitter.com/RP6mJZwQcw
— Bryan Harsin (@CoachHarsin) October 4, 2024
