Report: Hugh Freeze contract requires giving up control of social media accounts

In a strange clause being reported about Hugh Freeze’s new position as Auburn‘s head coach, he will be required to give up social media. The report claims that handing over control of his personal social media accounts is something that Freeze agreed to in order to keep controversy from building over his hiring with the Tigers.

Hugh Freeze agrees to social media freeze

“Multiple sources say Freeze has agreed to relinquish control of his social media accounts when he becomes the Auburn coach,” reports Sports Illustrated‘s Pat Forde. “The background check on Freeze was extensive, and the school hired a P.R. consultant to handle the expected blowback in bringing him aboard. They are jumping through a lot of hoops for Freeze.

“As one source with Auburn ties said Sunday, ‘If he’s contractually obligated to stay off social media and they had to hire an Oh S— firm before he even started, is hiring him really a good idea?'”

The situation is extremely unusual for one of the newest major players on the SEC coaching scene, but appears to be a result of Freeze’s history with social media. The report points to a pair of incidents involving Freeze using social media in ways that brought further scrutiny to scandals surrounding his former programs.

While battling a number of issues before his exit from Ole Miss, Freeze used Twitter to let people know how to contact the Ole Miss compliance office, and sent a direct message to a former Liberty student who was involved in a Title IX lawsuit against the school. Although Freeze was not involved in the lawsuit, he messaged an alleged victim of sexual assault in defense of the program’s athletic director.

Auburn did not make a direct statement regarding the reported social media ban for their newest head coach, but the move seems to indicate that the Tigers have weighed all options before hiring Freeze in regards to his former controversy.