Before Hugh Freeze took over as the head coach of the Auburn Tigers, the program already had a long streak of replacing its coordinators yearly.
Freeze kept that tradition alive after his first season on the Plains but explained that it was a necessary change. He depends on his coordinators to help him bring energy to the team.
“It was absolutely necessary for me to do that for my sanity, for my help, I have to have some help with that,” Freeze said. “DJ (Durkin) and Charles (Kelly) and (Derrick) Nix really have helped me with that. I think it’s become contagious. I think the kids see it, it breeds over some confidence to them. I couldn’t be more pleased with the chemistry of the staff right now.”
It was not surprising when Phillip Montgomery stepped away from the program after serving as its offensive coordinator last season. The Tigers struggled on that side of the ball and performed best when Freeze took over the play-calling.
The departure of Ron Roberts was not equally expected as Auburn had success on defense last season and that is ultimately what helped it compete.