Cadillac Williams will always be a legend on the Auburn University campus for his spectacular career in a Tigers uniform.
Yet when it came to knowing if he would be kept over from the previous staff after Bryan Harsin took over for Gus Malzahn in December, the running back coach was a little wary.
“With me being a guy who played here, who loves Auburn, it’s kind of two-fold for me,” Williams said. “Where you truly want the best for Auburn, but at the same time, not knowing your future with Auburn was kind of nerve-wracking. But thank God, Coach Harsin — I think it was a great hire — gave me an opportunity to come back and to continue to have an impact.”
Williams spent the previous two seasons at the position under Malzahn but with a new regime coming in, no assistant’s place was safe. It took a toll on the program’s leader in rushing touchdowns in a career.
“Just to have what transpired in December, it was tough,” Williams said Monday during a meeting with reporters. “I think the toughest thing about it was just the uncertainty of not knowing, of course. Once Allen (Greene) decided to go that different direction, it affects a lot of people’s lives. From not only coaches, but you have GAs, analysts. Just my two years being here, being part of this staff with Coach Malzahn and those other coaches, you just have a concern for not only yourself but their families and the direction of where we’re going to go as a university.
“When he (Harsin) first reached out to me, it was more or less just getting to know me, and kind of know about Auburn and the Auburn way,” “Then later on, I guess after the bowl game, when there was I guess a chance he was considering me, then it got down to more the Xs and Os and just my philosophy. Also, I think honestly with Coach Harsin, it honestly came down to him knowing that I wanted to be here at Auburn, and I wanted to make that step and that I was on board with turning this thing around and buying in.”