DJ Durkin will be the next defensive coordinator at Auburn
AUBURN — DJ Durkin will be the next defensive coordinator at Auburn.
ESPN’s Chris Low first reported the move. Auburn Live can confirm the hire.
Durkin was Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator in 2022 and 2023. Before that, he was recently co-DC at Ole Miss in 2020 and 2021, and Maryland head coach 2016-2018.
Sources tell Auburn Live that Hugh Freeze also seriously considered former Mississippi State head coach and defensive coordinator Zach Arnett, as well as Houston Texans linebackers coach Chris Kiffin for the position.
According to sources, Kiffin was the early leader due to a previous relationship with Freeze at both Arkansas State and Ole Miss. But, as the process went on, Durkin emerged over the last week plus as a leading candidate. Durkin also reportedly interviewed for the defensive coordinator position at Alabama prior to Nick Saban‘s retirement, and was under consideration to join Kalen DeBoer‘s new staff.
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Under Durkin’s leadership last season, the Aggies’ defense was fifth in the SEC in scoring defense (22.1 ppg) and third in total defense (316.1 ypg). Texas A&M led the league in sacks (42) last season, was first in rushing defense (108 ypg), second in tackles for loss (99), and third in opponents’ third-down conversions (32.16 percent).
Before his stint at Maryland, Durkin was DC at Michigan, DC at Florida, linebackers coach at Florida, defensive ends coach at Stanford, assistant coach at Bowling Green, GA at Bowling Green and GA at Notre Dame to start his career.
Durkin takes over defensive play calling from the departed Ron Roberts, who accepted a position on Florida’s coaching staff. Auburn Live reported on January 8 that Roberts would not return after one year on Hugh Freeze’s staff.
Under Roberts, the Auburn defense finished 7th in the SEC in scoring defense (22.6 points per game), 8th in the SEC in total defense (357 yards per game), 11th in the SEC in rushing defense (155 ypg), and 3rd in the SEC in pass defense (202 ypg).
This past season, Auburn was 3rd in the SEC with 12 interceptions, 7th with 31 sacks, 7th in tackles for loss with 77, 2nd in opponents’ third-down conversions (31.71 percent), 1st in overall redzone scoring allowed (79.55 percent).
More from DJ Durkin’s bio
In his first season at Texas A&M, Durkin’s defense led the nation allowing the fewest passing yards per game at 156.2. The Aggies held opponents under 150 yards through the air in six games, including three games under 100 yards. Texas A&M ranked No. 17 in the nation and No. 4 in the SEC in passing defense efficiency (117.10) and ranked No. 22 in the country allowing 20.7 points per game, which ranked fourth in the SEC.
In addition to his significant experience on the field, Durkin has been equally accomplished on the recruiting trail. The Rivals’ Recruiter of the Year in 2012, Durkin has helped ink nine top-25 classes, including five which ranked in the top 10 nationally. During his time with the Gators, Durkin helped land four-straight top-11 recruiting classes and nine five-star prospects.
Prior to his time in Oxford, Durkin spent one season in the NFL as a consultant for the Atlanta Falcons in 2018 after serving as the head coach at Maryland for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. He doubled the Terrapins’ win total during his first season at the helm and excelled on the recruiting trail, bringing in consecutive top-30 signing classes for the first time in program history.
Durkin was fired by Maryland on Oct.31, 2018, after briefly being reinstated following more than two months on administrative leave after Maryland player Jordan McNair’s death from heatstroke in June.
Durkin, on paid administrative leave since Aug. 11 of 2018, had been reinstated following two separate investigations into the football program and five meetings and calls between the 17-member board of regents following the June 13 death of 19-year-old offensive lineman McNair from a heatstroke he suffered at a May 29 workout, ESPN reported at the time.
Prior to his head coaching debut, Durkin served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Michigan, leading a defensive unit that ranked fourth in the country. Under Durkin, the Wolverines limited opponents to 17.2 points per game in 2015, in addition to shutting out three consecutive opponents – the longest such streak at Michigan in 35 years.
Durkin’s immediate impact in Ann Arbor was also displayed in player development. Michigan had nine defensive All-Big Ten honorees, including a pair of first-team defensive backs: Jourdan Lewis and Jabrill Peppers. In addition, three Wolverines (Ryan Glasgow, Lewis and Peppers,) were named semifinalists for national defensive awards in 2015.
As the defensive coordinator at Florida from 2013-14, Durkin led the Gators to consecutive top-15 rankings in total defense with the 15th-best mark in the country in 2014 (329.0 yards/game) and the eighth-best (314.2 yards/game) in 2013. Florida’s 2014 team finished the year ranked in the top 10 in the nation in yards allowed per play (4.45), yards allowed per rush attempt (3.16) and yards allowed per pass attempt (5.9).
