Hugh Freeze discusses the emotions surrounding his journey back to the SEC

On3 imageby:Kaiden Smith11/30/22

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Hugh Freeze was announced Monday as Auburn‘s new head football coach, as he returns back to the SEC after coaching at Ole Miss for five seasons between 2012 and 2016. Freeze’s journey back to college football’s premier conference was not easy, which he discussed with ESPN college football insider Paul Finebaum on Tuesday.

“Jill and I were talking last night at the condo they’re putting us in and it was just kind of a celebration and a few tears and just kind of thinking of what the last seven years have really been like,” Freeze said.

Freeze’s tenure at Ole Miss was tainted by various scandals including recruiting violations, academic violations, and the violation of the morals clause in his contract, which forced him to resign from the University or face termination, and Freeze chose resignation.

“There’s been obviously some valleys and a lot of mountain tops also, but you wonder during that time will you ever have the opportunity to do what you love at the highest level again and there’s been days where you’ve wondered for sure,” Freeze said.

Three years after his resignation, Freeze took the head coaching job at Liberty, leading them to four straight eight-win seasons and bowl game appearances, which ultimately led to his opportunity at Auburn.

“And I made a commitment six years ago to get up every morning and lead a disciplined life that is a grind to try to be the best I can in every area. It was work and fight to compete at places like Liberty, I owe them a lot of thanks, it was an incredible journey there,” Freeze said. “But to celebrate today with my wife, and my daughters, my mom and dad were here, some uncles were here also, and it was just an incredible feeling of just thankfulness, and humility, gratefulness, we’re very thankful.”

Freeze’s journey back into the Southeastern conference was surely not easy and definitely not guaranteed, which he also seems aware of, as he exhibited a high level of gratitude for the opportunity to be Auburn’s next head football coach.

“It was really surreal, obviously I’m very familiar with how rich in tradition and proud this program is and to go from utter despair and disappointment when you last coached in the SEC to being named the 31st head football coach for Auburn University when I got that news it was just one of those moments in time where you really wanna get on your knees and just say thank you,” Freeze said.