AuburnFamilyNews.com: Hugh Freeze, Auburn Reportedly Agree to 6-Year, $39M Contract as Head Coach

Monday, November 28, 2022

Hugh Freeze, Auburn Reportedly Agree to 6-Year, $39M Contract as Head Coach

Liberty football head coach Hugh Freeze is reportedly set to return to the SEC.

According to ESPN's Chris Low, Freeze has agreed to a deal to become the next head coach at Auburn. ESPN's Pete Thamel reported Freeze's deal will be for six years and have an average salary of $6.5 million per year.

Freeze had previously coached at Ole Miss from 2012 to 2016. He resigned prior to the 2017 season after admitting to personal misconduct.

Thamel reported Saturday that Freeze and Auburn had informally been engaged in contract discussions for "more than a week," with an offer expected to come after Saturday's Iron Bowl against No. 7 Alabama. The Tigers lost the game 49-27 to end the regular season with a 5-7 record and 2-6 conference record, ranking sixth in the SEC West.

Freeze coached Liberty to an 8-4 record this season, though the Flames ended the year with three consecutive losses. Sports Illustrated's Ross Dellenger added that Auburn will owe Liberty "around $3 million" as part of a buyout for hiring Freeze.

Since being hired by Liberty in December 2018, the 53-year-old led the team to a 34-15 record over four seasons and helped the Flames qualify for bowl games for the first time in program history. The Flames gone 3-0 in postseason matchups under Freeze.

During his time at Ole Miss, Freeze had coached the Rebels to a 39-25 record.

An NCAA investigation uncovered recruiting violations, most of which occurred under Freeze, while school officials found Freeze used a university cellphone to contact a number affiliated with an escort service. Following the NCAA investigation, Ole Miss had to vacate 33 wins, 27 of which were under Freeze. Sanctions also included a two-year postseason ban, a three-year probation period and scholarship reductions.

Freeze has only had one losing season in his 12 years as a college football head coach. He now will be at the helm of an Auburn program that hasn't finished higher than third in the SEC West since 2017 and has lost three consecutive bowl games.



from Bleacher Report https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10057013-hugh-freeze-auburn-reportedly-agree-to-6-year-39m-contract-as-head-coach

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