So I’m a little late in getting this up, but the hiring of AD John Cohen threw me a little and I wanted vet some things first before I started put this list out. From everything I gather so far, these are the early names to watch in this search, and as you can see head coaching experience matters. With that said, here we go:
1. Lane Kiffin - This is the most talked about name currently in the Auburn stratosphere, but will he get the job? I’ve got no clue as I’m always skeptical of first names out, but Kiff makes alot of sense as a frontline target.
2. Deion Sanders - Coach Prime is a media machine and a national brand onto himself. He can network, sell, and recruit like no other candidate on this list, but when talent is equal is he ready to coach on the biggest stage against guys like Kirby, Saban, Dabo, Heupal, Kiffin, Kelly, and etc once the talent level is equal. At Jackson State Prime has overwhelmed the league with the talent on his roster, he won’t be able to do that in the SEC and thus he’s going to have to let Auburn help him hire some guys that know this league and can assist him with a massive transition from the SWAC to the SEC (and no I don’t think his staff at Jackson State is ready to coach at this level with the exception of 4 guys he’s got down there).
3. Hugh Freeze - Reverend Freeze is dying for a second chance in the show and is prepared to make the proper sacrifices to make that happen. He’s hungry, he’s ready, and there’s a chance Auburn gives him his dream shot. Anybody that’s saying Freeze is no longer a target is either delusional or extending bias, either way they’re wrong. I’m not betting on the next hire to be Hugh at the moment, but I’m not betting against him either.
4. Dan Lanning - Two words come to mind when I hear Dan Lanning’s name, pedigree and potential. Groomed by Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, and Mike Norvell, Lanning is a future star in this business and he’s proving that out at Oregon right now. Is he prepared to step into Auburn and rebuild a badly neglected roster, I have no idea but I know this, privately Kirby has stated that Dan was his best recruiter on his staff at UGA and it wasn’t all that close (yes that’s a shot at the Dell McGee cuppers), and he’s very familar with the portal and Auburn’s regional recruiting footprint so you’d think he’s got as good a shot as any. Now the drawback with both Lanning and Lane is they are both in very good situations and might be hesitant to leave, so you are likely going to have to pay top dollar and then some to pry these guys away.
5. Joe Whitt Jr. - I didn’t believe he’d be a real candidate at first, but after speaking to a few people I trust, I fully believe there is some interest there with JWJ. An excellent coach that was Petrino’s top recruiter at Louisville back in the early 2000s, JWJ has been at finishing school in the NFL the past decade and has really developed his coaching chops. Given his understanding of Auburn, the southeast, and the type of staff he could build at Auburn I have no doubt that JWJ could thrive here and recruit at a top 10 level. Now that’s a lot of belief on my part as there’s very limited proof of concept, but JWJ is a guy that just gets it and he’s got instincts and intelligence that just jump off the page when you speak to him. He knows how to network and he knows who he needs in his back pocket to be successful. JWJ won’t be option number, but I think he’s someone to watch for sure.
Bonus Candidate - Jeff Grimes (He just knows to many people at Auburn and is to good of a coach to leave off this list).
Well that’s it Bunker family, that’s my list. Hope you all have a good weekend and War Damn Eagle!
1. Lane Kiffin - This is the most talked about name currently in the Auburn stratosphere, but will he get the job? I’ve got no clue as I’m always skeptical of first names out, but Kiff makes alot of sense as a frontline target.
2. Deion Sanders - Coach Prime is a media machine and a national brand onto himself. He can network, sell, and recruit like no other candidate on this list, but when talent is equal is he ready to coach on the biggest stage against guys like Kirby, Saban, Dabo, Heupal, Kiffin, Kelly, and etc once the talent level is equal. At Jackson State Prime has overwhelmed the league with the talent on his roster, he won’t be able to do that in the SEC and thus he’s going to have to let Auburn help him hire some guys that know this league and can assist him with a massive transition from the SWAC to the SEC (and no I don’t think his staff at Jackson State is ready to coach at this level with the exception of 4 guys he’s got down there).
3. Hugh Freeze - Reverend Freeze is dying for a second chance in the show and is prepared to make the proper sacrifices to make that happen. He’s hungry, he’s ready, and there’s a chance Auburn gives him his dream shot. Anybody that’s saying Freeze is no longer a target is either delusional or extending bias, either way they’re wrong. I’m not betting on the next hire to be Hugh at the moment, but I’m not betting against him either.
4. Dan Lanning - Two words come to mind when I hear Dan Lanning’s name, pedigree and potential. Groomed by Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, and Mike Norvell, Lanning is a future star in this business and he’s proving that out at Oregon right now. Is he prepared to step into Auburn and rebuild a badly neglected roster, I have no idea but I know this, privately Kirby has stated that Dan was his best recruiter on his staff at UGA and it wasn’t all that close (yes that’s a shot at the Dell McGee cuppers), and he’s very familar with the portal and Auburn’s regional recruiting footprint so you’d think he’s got as good a shot as any. Now the drawback with both Lanning and Lane is they are both in very good situations and might be hesitant to leave, so you are likely going to have to pay top dollar and then some to pry these guys away.
5. Joe Whitt Jr. - I didn’t believe he’d be a real candidate at first, but after speaking to a few people I trust, I fully believe there is some interest there with JWJ. An excellent coach that was Petrino’s top recruiter at Louisville back in the early 2000s, JWJ has been at finishing school in the NFL the past decade and has really developed his coaching chops. Given his understanding of Auburn, the southeast, and the type of staff he could build at Auburn I have no doubt that JWJ could thrive here and recruit at a top 10 level. Now that’s a lot of belief on my part as there’s very limited proof of concept, but JWJ is a guy that just gets it and he’s got instincts and intelligence that just jump off the page when you speak to him. He knows how to network and he knows who he needs in his back pocket to be successful. JWJ won’t be option number, but I think he’s someone to watch for sure.
Bonus Candidate - Jeff Grimes (He just knows to many people at Auburn and is to good of a coach to leave off this list).
Well that’s it Bunker family, that’s my list. Hope you all have a good weekend and War Damn Eagle!
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