According to reports, Auburn’s search for a defensive coordinator officially came to a close late Monday night, as the Tigers are set to hire D.J. Durkin as their new DC.
Durkin comes to Auburn after spending the past two seasons at Texas A&M, where he has served as the Aggies defensive coordinator. Under Durkin, the Aggies ranked No. 25 nationally in 2022 by allowing 21.2 PPG to opponents, with Texas A&M ranking No. 36 a year ago with 22.1 PPG allowed.
Prior to his time at Texas A&M, Durkin spent two seasons as the Co-DC at Ole Miss in 2020-21, as well as being a head coach at Maryland from 2016-17. As the head coach of the Terrapins, Maryland posted a combined 10-15 record during those two seasons.
Durkin has also served as a DC at one other stop in the SEC back in 2013-14 at Florida, leading the Gators’ defense to averages of 21.1 PPG allowed each year, respectively.
Hugh Freeze is hiring DJ Durkin to be @AuburnFootball’s DC, sources tell ESPN. It will be Durkin’s fourth different stint as a DC in the SEC. He was at Texas A&M the past two seasons, Ole Miss the two seasons prior to that and Florida in 2013-14.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) January 30, 2024
Combining with new co-defensive coordinator Charles Kelly, Durkin will now take over an Auburn defensive unit that ranked No. 43 in the country last season with an average of 22.6 PPG allowed.
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