Auburn interviews Alabama's Kirby Smart for head coaching job: Report

Auburn reportedly interviewed Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart for its vacant head coaching position on Monday. (Michael Chang/Getty Images)

Auburn interviewed Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart for its vacant head coaching position, al.com's Charles Goldberg reported on Monday.

The 36-year-old Smart has never held a head job, but he is viewed as one of college football's up-and-coming potential coaching stars. He has been Alabama's defensive coordinator since 2007 along with head coach Nick Saban. For the last two seasons, Alabama's defense has ranked No. 1 in the nation.

Smart has been on Saban's staff at two other stops in his career — with LSU as its defensive-backs coach in 2004, and with the NFL's Miami Dolphins as their safeties coach in 2006.

Goldberg reported that Alabama is also interested in at least five other candidates — Arkansas State coach Gus Malzahn, TCU coach Gary Patterson, Boise State coach Chris Petersen,  former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino  and Louisville coach Charlie Strong.

fired previous head coach Gene Chizik on Nov. 25