Tag: John Cohen

Is Lane Kiffin Auburn’s top target? Bruce Feldman weighs in

FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman shared insight on College Football’s hottest head coaching candidates during a segment on “Big Noon Kickoff” on Saturday Morning.

Auburn Football’s head coaching vacancy was heavily discussed during the Saturday morning college football preview shows, as it has been one of the hottest topics of the previous week.

During FOX Sports’ “Big Noon Kickoff”, reporter Bruce Feldman shared potential targets for the openings at Auburn and Nebraska. While discussing the Auburn job, he shared three names that Auburn fans should keep an eye on.

“The names to know there: [autotag]Deion Sanders[/autotag] – unbeaten at Jackson State. But would the big-money people there feel totally comfortable with him running the show at Auburn?”  Feldman said. “A few other guys: [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] proved that he could beat Nick Saban multiple times, but he definitely has some baggage from his Ole Miss days, and ex-Panthers coach [autotag]Matt Rhule[/autotag], would he be a good fit in the SEC?”

While those three names have been popular around Auburn, Feldman says that the Tigers’ top target resides elsewhere in the SEC West.

“The name to really keep an eye on, I’m told, is [autotag]Lane Kiffin[/autotag],” Feldman said. “He’s 18-4 in his last two years at Ole Miss. He has really evolved and grown into this position and has really proved that he can really win in the SEC. Also, they just hired at Auburn, [autotag]John Cohen[/autotag], the AD from Mississippi State, who had really shown that he can give his old head coach, Mike Leach, a lot of flexibility, which would probably be attractive to Lane Kiffin if he did take this job, which also has a ton of resources.”

Rhule is also a strong candidate for the Nebraska opening according to Feldman, as well as Army head coach Jeff Monken, Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, and former TCU head coach Gary Patterson, who currently serves as an assistant at Texas.

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What SEC head coaches have been saying about Auburn’s turbulent week

Here’s what SEC coaches are saying about Auburn’s hirings and firings this week:

It has certainly been a week for the Auburn Tigers and its staff.

Monday saw the school hire a new AD in Mississippi State’s [autotag]John Cohen[/autotag] and then fire its head coach, [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag], mere moments after. The ensuing days have seen positional coaches fired and the team’s interim staff get shaped up for its game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday.

Quite a few coaches around the league had quite a bit to say, be it because they knew Harsin or Cohen or because their name has been floating around in Auburn’s head coaching search. Here are a few reactions to what the Tigers have been doing the past week:

Photo Gallery: Auburn Football’s revamped staff leads its first practice

Here is a look at the first practice under interim head coach Carnell Williams.

Just one day after the announcement of the dismissal of [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag], offensive coordinator [autotag]Eric Kiesau[/autotag], tight ends coach [autotag]Brad Bedell[/autotag], and several other staffers, a revamped coaching staff was constructed and revealed to the public.

The staff, led by interim head coach Carnell Williams, includes new roles for seven assistant coaches and staffers. Several coaches’ roles remain the same, including defensive coordinator [autotag]Jeff Schmedding[/autotag], defensive line coach [autotag]Jimmy Brumbaugh[/autotag], linebackers coach [autotag]Christian Robinson[/autotag], and special team coordinator [autotag]Roc Bellatoni[/autotag].

Tuesday, the new-look staff held its first practice, as they prepare to coach their first game this Saturday at Mississippi State. Here is a look at the best images from Tuesday’s practice, courtesy of Auburn Athletics photographer Todd Van Emst.

Everything Bruce Pearl said ahead of Wednesday’s exhibition with UAH

Pearl shares his game plan ahead of Wednesday’s exhibition at Neville Arena, as well as his thoughts on the new hire of John Cohen as athletic director.

Auburn Basketball officially opens the season on Monday, Nov. 7 at Neville Arena against George Mason.

The Tigers will get one last tune-up on Wednesday, however, by hosting Alabama-Huntsville of Division II’s Gulf South Conference at Neville Arena for a 7 p.m. CT tipoff.

What is Auburn head coach [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag]’s approach to the game? He expects to win Wednesday’s game but will do so by using a 12-13 man rotation. He also mentioned during Tuesday’s press conference that [autotag]Allen Flanigan[/autotag] has gotten back into a rhythm following his leave of absence in September. The bad news, however, is that [autotag]Chance Westry[/autotag] is still recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, and will not be available to play in Wednesday’s exhibition.

Not only did Pearl mention his team during his recent media availability, but he also shared his thoughts on the recent hire of John Cohen as athletic director.

Here is a look at what Pearl said prior to his team’s exhibition game against UAH on Wednesday night.

Former Auburn coach Bryan Harsin makes statement after firing

The statement is Harsin’s first words after his firing.

Former Tigers head coach [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag] has spoken out for the first time since his firing.

Harsin released a statement through ESPN analyst Cole Cubelic’s Twitter account. The statement comes after Harsin was fired shortly after Auburn announced the hiring of its new athletic director, [autotag]John Cohen[/autotag].

Here is Harsin’s full statement:

“I am incredibly disappointed that I won’t get to lead the Auburn football program and these players into the future. I poured my heart and soul into this program and team. We stood together in the face of considerable challenges and outside noise.

Through my entire time at Auburn we did things the right way, which is not always the easy way. I am very proud of the resolve shown by everyone in our facility and incredibly grateful for those at Auburn who stood by me and my family. I am certain that this group of players will do great things.

I will miss you guys tremendously but will always be there for you and do anything I can to help moving forward. Thank you for believing in me.

Like any coach with the benefit of hindsight, there are things that could have been done differently. I don’t pretend to be perfect but I am certain I will be better moving forward because of this experience.

I truly believe Auburn has the potential to be a championship program once again. The resources, financial support and fan base are in place. There are good people throughout this program and University. With complete alignment, the possibilities are endless.

I hurt for the coaches, staff members and families who are left in limbo. This team and staff came here fully committed to our vision of what we could accomplish in time. That time has been cut short. They will all persevere because of their tremendous character and ability and I will do everything I can to help them with this transition.

As is life, my family and I will now turn the page and chart our next course, always grateful for the positive relationships formed and memories made on the Plains. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of the Auburn Family.”

Harsin’s former Boise State coaches and staff on the squad have slowly begun to be released from the team, beginning with offensive coordinator Eric Keisau and tight ends coach Brad Bedell being fired on Monday. On top of that, strength and conditioning coach Jeff Pitman was relieved of his duties on Tuesday.

Running backs coach Cadillac Williams will take over for Harsin for the rest of the season.

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Auburn stays put in latest ESPN Football Power Index rankings

Auburn’s most recent loss to Arkansas has no effect on their place in week 10’s FPI rankings.

Despite dropping its fourth straight game, Auburn’s place in the latest ESPN Football Power Index ranking remains the same.

Auburn Football checks in this week at No. 49, which is the same placement that they were given following its’ bye week on Oct. 22. Auburn did, however, fall in strength of record, overall efficiency, offensive efficiency, and defensive efficiency.

Looking ahead to this Saturday’s contest at Mississippi State, the Bulldogs are No. 17 in this week’s ranking. The Bulldogs rank higher in strength of record, overall efficiency, offensive efficiency, and defensive efficiency.

They also have an 81% chance to earn the home win over Auburn this Saturday according to the ESPN FPI.

Last season’s game saw Mississippi State come back from a 28-3 deficit to defeat Auburn, 43-34 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. This season’s game will feature an interesting storyline, as former Mississippi State athletic director [autotag]John Cohen[/autotag] has just signed a contract to take the same position at Auburn.

Auburn promotes Rich McGlynn to deputy athletics director

John Cohen has made his first move as Auburn’s athletic director.

Auburn’s new athletics director [autotag]John Cohen[/autotag]’s most important hire will be to hire a new football coach but it will not be his first move.

That was to promote [autotag]Rich McGlynn[/autotag] to deputy athletics director, a role in which the two will work together to “further elevate the Auburn athletics department,” the university announced.

McGlynn served as Auburn’s interim athletic director while the Tigers searched for a replacement for [autotag]Allen Greene[/autotag]. Before that, he was Auburn’s executive associate athletics director for compliance, a role he has served in since 2006

While overseeing the compliance department, McGlynn is most known for helping keep Cam Newton eligible during the 2010 BCS national championship season and the investigation around the men’s basketball program.

“Given his experience as a Southeastern Conference Athletic Director and knowing he’s empowering Rich McGlynn, this is the best of both worlds,”  [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag] said of Cohen in a release. “I’m excited about our new leadership team. It’s time for the Auburn family to come together as we move forward.”

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Auburn reaches deal with new athletic director

Auburn is hiring within the SEC to find its new athletic director.

The Auburn Tigers have reportedly found their new athletic director for the foreseeable future.

Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger reported on Monday that Auburn has selected Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen to head its athletic department. Cohen is slated to resign from his current post with the Bulldogs and could be named as Auburn’s new athletic director the same day.

Cohen reportedly is signing a five-year contract at $1.5 million a year — a notably higher total than what previous athletic director Allen Greene was paid. Greene made $625 thousand a year, so the significant price increase comes as a sign of commitment for the Tigers in getting their replacement for Greene.

Cohen, who was Mississippi State’s baseball coach from 2009 to 2016, became Mississippi State’s athletic director after its former AD, Scott Stricklin, left for the University of Florida. Cohen has served as an assistant baseball coach with Kentucky and Florida prior to becoming an athletic director, so perhaps his SEC experience was a major catalyst for his hiring.

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Report: Auburn in discussions with Mississippi State AD John Cohen

Auburn could be closing in on the next athletic director according to ESPN insider Pete Thamel.

A recent report indicated that the Auburn Tigers likely wouldn’t make a decision on the future of head football coach Bryan Harsin until they made an athletic director hire. We could be closing in on that piece of the puzzle for Auburn athletics.

According to a report from ESPN insider Pete Thamel, the Auburn Tigers have entered discussions with Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen. Cohen has served as the athletic director at his alma mater since 2016 when Scott Stricklin left for the AD job at Florida.

The hiring of Cohen would be interesting with Utah State’s AD John Hartwell being named as the leading candidate recently. It could also signal that a decision on the head football coach could be approaching soon as the calendar turns to November next week.

We will continue to monitor the chatter in regard to the next athletic director at Auburn University.

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