Bryan Harsin's immediate future at Auburn in question
Justin Hokanson•15 minutes
Article written by:
Justin Hokanson
_JHokanson
Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
AUBURN – The
Bryan Harsin era is in serious turmoil less than 14 months after he was hired.
Sources tell Auburn Live that people in positions of power are actively making their case to top level officials at Auburn University to relieve
Bryan Harsin of his coaching duties “for cause.”
No final decisions have been made. There is no timetable for a decision to be made.
If Harsin were dismissed “for cause,” the university will not owe Harsin a buyout, which would have been 70 percent of the remaining amount on his contract (that’s approximately $12.8 million).
Harsin arrived at Auburn after seven seasons at Boise State. His record there was 69-19. Harsin went 6-7 in his first and only season at Auburn. It was certainly a rocky tenure.
After a close loss at then top-15 Penn State, Auburn rebounded and rose to No. 12 in the College Football Playoff rankings after beating top-25 Arkansas on the road and No. 10 Ole Miss at home. However, that’s when it all seemingly went wrong. The Tigers didn’t win again, losing five straight games, including blowing double-digit losses to Mississippi State, South Carolina and Alabama. Auburn also lost the bowl game to Houston after holding a lead in the fourth quarter.
Since the season’s end, 18 players have entered the transfer portal.
Harsin hired and fired receivers coach
Cornelius Williams after four games.
Mike Bobo was dismissed after one season as offensive coordinator.
Nick Eason left to return to his alma mater Clemson.
Derek Mason left to become the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, and
Austin Davis left his position as the new offensive coordinator 43 days after he was hired.
Harsin and Co. finished their first full recruiting class with a No. 18 ranking according to the On3 Consensus team rankings. That’s the eighth best class in the SEC.