DJ Durkin Takes Over Auburn Football as Interim Coach
For the first time in nearly three years, Auburn football will step onto the field without Hugh Freeze leading the team. Following a disappointing Week 10 loss to Kentucky, the Tigers made the decision to relieve Freeze of his duties, ending his three-year tenure with a 15-19 overall record. With the head coaching position now vacant, Auburn has turned to one of Freeze’s assistants, defensive coordinator DJ Durkin, to serve as the interim head coach for the final stretch of the 2025 season.
Durkin steps into this role with experience, though his path has been far from simple. He will lead Auburn through the final three games, beginning with a challenging road matchup against No. 16 Vanderbilt at FirstBank Stadium. The Tigers will be facing a difficult situation, with offensive struggles and uncertainty at the quarterback position, where Jackson Arnold and Ashton Daniels have shared duties. However, a strong showing in these remaining games could not only energize the team but also strengthen Durkin’s case for a permanent head coaching role, as Auburn conducts a national search to replace Freeze.
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DJ Durkin brings a mix of college and professional coaching experience to Auburn. Before joining the Tigers in 2024 as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, Durkin had coached at Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Florida, among other stops. He also had a brief stint as a consultant with the Atlanta Falcons in 2020. Durkin first held a head coaching position at Maryland from 2016 to 2017, though his tenure there ended controversially following the tragic death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair, which led to an investigation into the football program. Durkin was placed on administrative leave and later fired after the investigation’s findings, making his return to a head coaching role under scrutiny.
Despite that past, Durkin has been praised for his leadership and the character he brings to a team. In his debut game as Auburn’s interim coach, he guided the Tigers to a competitive performance against Vanderbilt, taking the game into overtime before falling 45-38. Following the game, Durkin appeared emotional but proud of his team’s effort, emphasizing the resilience and character of the players under his guidance.
Durkin’s coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Bowling Green, his alma mater, before moving on to positions at Notre Dame, Stanford, Florida, and Michigan. He has held a range of responsibilities, from special teams coordinator to defensive coordinator, and has now stepped into the interim head coach role at Auburn for the second time, having briefly served as Florida’s interim head coach in 2014.
As Auburn looks to finish the season on a high note, all eyes will be on DJ Durkin to see if he can steady the ship and leave a positive impression during this interim period, potentially shaping the future of Auburn football.
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