Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin is keeping his job after a university inquiry into the football program.
“I am pleased to report that the evaluation of concerns raised regarding our football program is complete,” university president Jay Gogue said Friday. “I am equally pleased to confirm that Bryan Harsin remains our head football coach.” Auburn spent at least the past week looking into the reasons behind the departure of about 20 players to the transfer portal. Five assistant coaches also left the Tigers, who finished 6-7 in Harsin’s first season with the program in 2021.
I'm telling you, if Bryan Harsin remains, the support he will gain from this will be significant. I know Auburn and the fans. If he survives, the fans will rally around him in a similar fashion to the way they did with Tommy Tuberville after JetGate. — Justin Hokanson (@_JHokanson) February 4, 2022
I'm telling you, if Bryan Harsin remains, the support he will gain from this will be significant. I know Auburn and the fans. If he survives, the fans will rally around him in a similar fashion to the way they did with Tommy Tuberville after JetGate.
— Justin Hokanson (@_JHokanson) February 4, 2022
Harsin’s treatment of players and coaches was the focus of the inquiry, ESPN said. Last week, a variety of current and former players spoke out on social media, both in support of and against Harsin.
“This has been one of the hardest weeks of my career, and it had nothing to do with my coaching ability,” Harsin said in a released statement Friday afternoon. “The personal attacks on me and my family went too far and were without justification. … We saw and felt the worst of the worst in some people. Fortunately, we also saw the best of the best in others and we will always be grateful for the support of so many through a very difficult time — our players, staff, the Auburn family, and many others.”
ESPN said Harsin met with officials conducting the inquiry on Wednesday before he attended the SEC head coaches meeting on Thursday in Birmingham, Ala.
Gogue, who is retiring May, said Harsin will have the support of the campus community.
“Our university, the administration and the entire Board of Trustees stand behind Coach Harsin and are ready to help him succeed as the leader of our football program. It is my hope and expectation that the entire Auburn Family will join us in uniting behind Coach Harsin,” he said.
Per ESPN, the school was investigating whether there was reason to fire Harsin with cause. If Auburn were to fire him without cause, he would be owed $18.3 million — 70 percent of the money left on his contract.
Auburn hired Harsin, 45, to replace Gus Malzahn after the 2020 season. Harsin compiled a 69-19 record as the head coach at Boise State from 2014-20.
–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)
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