Hugh Freeze doubles down on respect for Auburn administration, dispels control issue criticisms

Former Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze sensed that the Nov. 1 matchup vs. Kentucky was a must-win matchup for the Tigers. Auburn would lose 10-3, and Freeze was let go the following day.

Despite this, athletic director John Cohen never spoke to Freeze about the UK loss being must-win. Amid Auburn’s struggles, however, caused Cohen to make the change in football leadership.

“I mean, you feel like that the day you sign up for (it),” Freeze told On3’s Justin Hokanson. “Certainly, when you start hearing the rumblings and obviously all the stuff you have to listen to when you’re leaving the field after close losses. You know that they hear it too, and you don’t know who all’s talking to them.

” … (Cohen) and I never had those talks, but you sense it. You know that this has certainly got to be on his mind, because he’s hearing that from the fan base.”

Additionally, Hokanson questioned Freeze regarding the narrative that the Auburn football coach may not have full authority over the program. He put that rumor to bed, detailing how he had a healthy working relationship alongside the Tigers’ administration.

He noted his “direct line” to both AD John Cohen and Auburn Chief of Staff Lee VanHorn to call if the need ever arises. There was “zero” indication that he didn’t have “complete control of that building” and at the end of the day, he respects the decision the Auburn brass made. Freeze said he’s got to move forward with it.

While Freeze didn’t experience any of those control issues personally, Cohen only arrived in 2022. That was one year before Freeze was hired, and could have ushered in a new set of values across the athletic department.

“I think some of that changed when John (Cohen) got here, maybe? Because I really didn’t experience it, and maybe he just protected me from it or whatever,” Freeze said. “I don’t think (new head coach Alex Golesh) gonna have any of that as an issue at all. It’s really about, man, getting the culture right in that building and retaining the players you need to go compete in this conference.”

Freeze said that he doesn’t know Golesh personally, but praised him for retaining defensive coordinator DJ Durkin. With Auburn failing to qualify for a bowl game in 2025, Golesh will be able to get right to work at Auburn.