Before becoming Auburn’s head coach, Hugh Freeze held the same position at Liberty. When he left the Flames for Auburn, he brought much of his staff with him.
Now, he has dipped into his former program again to hire his former director of external relations to help guide Auburn through the revenue-sharing era of NIL.
Former Liberty Personnel Director Jovon Hubbard Joins Hugh Freeze At Auburn
In college football, the front office used to play a minimal role. There weren’t many responsibilities that a head coach couldn’t manage alone. But since NIL was legalized in 2021, and especially now with the arrival of the revenue-sharing era, having a strong and organized front office is more important than ever.
To adapt to this change, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has poached Arkansas’ director of player personnel, Jovon Hubbard. Hubbard previously worked under Freeze at Liberty, where he served as director of external relations and director of on-campus recruiting.
Auburn is hiring Arkansas director of player personnel Jovon Hubbard to a front office role, source tells @On3sports
Hubbard has experience working with Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze, working on his Liberty staff for three seasons. Football Scoop first.https://t.co/Z81WDJvsSv pic.twitter.com/X8HHXd5q1N
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) July 22, 2025
Hubbard joined the Arkansas staff in 2023, where he played a key role in managing the Razorbacks’ approach to the transfer portal and NIL operations. Last season, Hubbard was instrumental in helping Arkansas secure the No. 26-ranked transfer portal class, followed by an impressive jump to No. 16 in the 2025 cycle.
Hubbard’s prior connection with Hugh Freeze should allow for a smooth transition at Auburn and help ensure continued growth in the program’s recruiting efforts. His addition reflects the evolving landscape of college athletics, where personnel staffers have become some of the most essential figures in building a successful football program.
Hubbard will work alongside Auburn GM Will Redmond as they look to strengthen the Tigers’ 2026 recruiting class, which currently ranks No. 65 nationally according to 247Sports and includes just 11 commitments.
Given Hubbard’s proven track record, he is expected to play a major role in elevating Auburn’s recruiting efforts and helping Freeze get the program back on track.
Hubbard has worked in college football personnel roles since 2016, beginning as the assistant director of player personnel at East Carolina. He joined Hugh Freeze’s staff at Liberty in 2019, before being hired by Sam Pittman and the Razorbacks.
Auburn is the latest step in his rise through the personnel ranks, and he is expected to be a valuable addition to Freeze’s staff.
