Auburn AD John Cohen confirms interim coach DJ Durkin will be considered for full-time job

DJ Durkin, who began this season as Auburn‘s defensive coordinator, was named the team’s interim coach after the school fired Hugh Freeze Sunday. On Monday, Auburn athletic director John Cohen said Durkin will be considered as a candidate to replace Freeze.

Auburn hired Durkin to be its defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in January 2024. Auburn allowed 330.8 yards per game last season, ranking No. 31 in the country.

The Tigers’ defense has only improved this season. They are giving up just 309.8 yards per game, the 22nd least in college football.

Now, Durkin will have an opportunity to lead more than Auburn’s defense. Durkin’s only previous head coaching experience was at Maryland, where he was the helm from 2016-17.

In his two seasons with the Terrapins, Durkin led the program to a 10-15 overall record and a 5-13 mark in conference play. In August 2018, Maryland placed Durkin on administrative leave after the school came under investigation for the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair.

McNair collapsed during a football workout on May 29, 2018. According to The Washington Post, McNair arrived to the hospital with a body temperature of 106 °F. While doctors successfully brought McNair’s body temperature down to a safer level, he never recovered and died on June 13, 2018.

Durkin was reinstated as Maryland’s head coach on October 30, 2018. However, the reinstatement was met with massive criticism and public uproar, ultimately leading Maryland president Wallace Loh to fire Durkin the following day.

After his time at Maryland, DJ Durkin served as a consultant for the Atlanta Falcons in 2019. He then served as a co-DC at Ole Miss from 2020-21 and as Texas A&M‘s DC from 2022-23.

Despite Durkin’s controversial history, he will have a chance to be Auburn’s 30th head football coach. Of course, he’ll have stiff competition for the coveted job opening.

On Monday, ESPN released a hot board of potential candidates to replace Hugh Freeze. The list included numerous standout names, including Tulane‘s Jon Sumrall and Missouri‘s Eli Drinkwitz.

Auburn has three games remaining in its regular season. On Saturday, the Tigers will face off against No. 15 Vanderbilt. After a ramp-up game against Mercer, Auburn will conclude its regular season with its annual showdown against Alabama in the Iron Bowl.

DJ Durkin will attempt to lead to lead Auburn to its first win in the Iron Bowl since 2019. If Durkin can lead Auburn win two of its final three regular season games, the Tigers will be bowl eligible.