Auburn AD Allen Greene makes first comment on Bryan Harsin, program investigation
It’s been a chaotic couple of weeks surrounding the football program on the Plains. There have been questions about whether or not head coach Bryan Harsin will be the head coach for the Auburn Tigers come the 2022 season. On Friday, they announced he would be back next year and put any possibility of Harsin being fired to bed.
Athletic Director Allen Greene made his first official comments on the situation on Friday. He said Auburn fans will be able to rally behind the team, Harsin, and the coaching staff the head coach has put together.
“I’m confident that the Auburn Family will rally behind the tremendous young men in the (Auburn Football) program, (Bryan Harsin) and his dedicated staff who are collectively working towards a bright future,” Greene said via Twitter.
Greene decided to hire Harsin away from Boise State after there was a decision to move on from Gus Malzhan as the head coach. Results did not meet up to expectations for Auburn, finishing with their first losing season since 2012 after a Birmingham Bowl loss against Houston. Efforts in the recruiting game have not satisfied Tiger fans either, finishing well behind some of their biggest rivals inside of the SEC.
Harsin will get a second opportunity to prove himself next season and will continue to have the backing of his athletic director.
Bryan Harsin comments on being retained as Auburn Tigers HC
ESPN first reported the news of Auburn retaining Harsin as the team’s head coach, and the Tigers officially announced the news later on Friday. After a “fact-finding review”, Auburn opted to give Harsin a second season.
The past couple of weeks have been hard for Harsin, and that had nothing to do with being a football coach. He was on the receiving end of a lot of criticism, but he is ultimately happy that some came to support him. Harsin commented on the situation after the news was made official.
“This has been one of the hardest weeks of my career and it had nothing to do with my coaching ability,” said Harsin. “The personal attacks on me and my family went too far and were without justification. Their resolve through this experience has been incredible but also completely expected. We saw and felt the worst of the worst in some people. Fortunately, we also saw the best of the best in others and we will always be grateful for the support of so many through a very difficult time – our players, staff, the Auburn family, and many others.”