The writing was on the wall for Hugh Freeze at Auburn. After a 15-19 tenure with the Tigers and a 0-1 record in bowl games, the end of his Auburn era was less a surprise than a matter of timing. Freeze came to Auburn with strong credentials, including a 39-25 record at Ole Miss and a 34-15 stint at Liberty, but the fit never seemed ideal.
While his Auburn tenure didn’t pan out, Freeze has proven he can coach and win at a high level, leaving multiple opportunities for him to rebound elsewhere. He can take over for a group of five program, stay in the SEC, or even return home? Here are five potential landing spots for Freeze in the near future.
UAB Head Coach
While UAB faces structural challenges, sharing a state with Alabama and Auburn, the Blazers have demonstrated their ability to compete at a high level. Bill Clark led the team to an 11-3 finish in 2018 and nine wins in both 2019 and 2021.
With the transfer portal providing incoming coaches with flexibility, UAB presents an opportunity for Freeze to hit the ground running, wipe the slate clean after the Trent Dilfer era, and leverage his experience and regional familiarity to build a competitive program in the Southeast. Fertile cornucopia of recruits, just 100 miles from the fringes of Atlanta and Birmingham, and for all of Freeze’s shortcomings, he signed two top-10 classes in his time at Auburn.
Tulane Head Coach
Tulane could be in flux if current coach Jon Sumrall leaves for a Power Five job. The Green Wave has posted a 6-2 record this season, and Sumrall has been called the “most talked about Group of 5 coach” by ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.
If the Tulane job opens, Freeze could use it as a springboard to rebuild his reputation, following a path similar to other successful coaches who leveraged a strong Group of 5 tenure into Power Five opportunities.
Western Kentucky Head Coach
Western Kentucky has long promoted continuity from within its program, a strategy that has paid dividends under coaches like Willie Taggart, Jeff Brohm and Tyson Helton. Freeze could thrive in this environment, using the Hilltoppers as a platform to prove his ability to compete consistently, develop talent, and return the program to contention year after year.
Arkansas Head Coach
Freeze might opt to remain in the SEC and attempt a “revenge tour.” Arkansas could see him as a proven recruiter and coach who simply wasn’t the right fit at Auburn. With a desire for a quicker turnaround, the Razorbacks might view Freeze as the type of coach capable of restoring competitiveness in Fayetteville, leveraging his recruiting experience and SEC familiarity to rebuild the program.
Ole Miss Offensive Coordinator
Returning to Ole Miss in an assistant role could allow Freeze to regroup in a familiar environment. If Lane Kiffin departs, Freeze could step in as offensive coordinator, helping groom the next generation while re-establishing his credentials in a lower-pressure role.
Back in his home state, at a program where he previously thrived, Freeze could rebuild momentum while enjoying the comforts of a familiar setting and some great golfing opportunities.
While Auburn didn’t work out, Freeze’s coaching career is far from over. Between the Group of 5 programs, SEC opportunities, and returning to his Ole Miss roots, there are multiple paths for him to rebound and remind the college football world why he remains a respected tactician and recruiter.