Auburn coaching hot board V2: A new west-coast name has entered the ring

There's a new name on the Auburn coaching hot board.

Author:
Lance Dawe
Publish date:
Nov 3, 2022 2:51 PM EDT

In this story:

Auburn's head coaching search continues, and we have a new updated coaching hot board - including a new addition and a couple of removals from the list. We've trimmed it down to a few specific names that Auburn is interested in.

OUT: Matt Rhule, Dave Aranda, Chip Kelly, Todd Monken, PJ Fleck, Luke Fickell, Urban Meyer

Here's a look at the updated list.

Lane Kiffin - Ole Miss

Oct 15, 2022; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin speaks with quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) during a timeout during the first quarter of the game against the Auburn Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports — Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Record at Ole Miss: 23-9

Overall Record: 84-42

Head coaching experience: Oakland Raiders, Tennessee, USC, Florida Atlantic, Ole Miss

Other experience: Fresno State (assistant), Colorado State (GA), Jacksonville Jaguars (DQC), USC (TE, WR, PGC, OC), Alabama (OC/QB)

Kiffin is currently at the top of Auburn's target list and will remain there until the end of the season when the Tigers can finally go after him. He has mastered the transfer portal with the Rebels and would immediately provide a boost to Auburn's relatively thin roster.

He's one of the best offensive minds in the game and has a Twitter game that is unrivaled. Kiffin has made a couple of public remarks about the position but has not fully shut down the possibility of coming to the Plains. He was reportedly interested in the position back in 2020 and may find interest in Auburn now.

It's also evident that Auburn can afford to pay him much more than Ole Miss can. The question is, does the university want to invest that much in a coach that has never stayed at one school for longer than four seasons? What does the university's long-term plan look like with Oklahoma and Texas moving to the SEC in 2025?

Deion Sanders - Jackson State

Lane Kiffin says Deion Sanders would \"do great\" at Auburn. Syndication The Clarion Ledger — © Barbara Gauntt / USA TODAY NETWORK

Record at Jackson State: 23-5

Overall Record: 23-5

Head coaching experience: Jackson State

Other experience: Trinity Christian High School (OC)

Sanders has proven that in the NIL era of college football, anyone can recruit anyone to play anywhere. After earning the commitment of Travis Hunter (No. 1 overall player in the 2022 recruiting cycle, highest-ranked prospect to ever commit to a HBCU or an FCS program) national attention surrounding the Tigers skyrocketed, with discussions about Deion's potential as a head coach forming quickly.

Even before the Auburn job opened up there were several national media outlets that were calling for Prime Time to make his way down to the Plains. ESPN, The Athletic, and Fox Sports media members all suggested that the Tigers take a look at him.

While it is clear that Sanders does provide an insane amount of potential for recruiting, NIL, and overall attention, there is pause about whether or not he is ready to coach at the D-I level. The hype around Sanders' name has died down over the last week or so, but do not count him out yet.

Hugh Freeze - Liberty

Dec 18, 2021; Mobile, Alabama, USA; Liberty Flames head coach Hugh Freeze watches his defense on the field in the first quarter during the 2021 LendingTree Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert McDuffie-USA TODAY Sports — Robert McDuffie-USA TODAY Sports

Record at Liberty: 33-12

Overall Record: 75-44

Head coaching experience: Lambuth, Arkansas State, Ole Miss, Liberty

Other experience: Ole Miss (TE), Arkansas State (OC)

Freeze has well documented baggage that comes with him wherever he goes. However, that has not stopped many from pointing out that he has won everywhere he has coached, and currently has the Flames (a program that has only been at the D-I level for four and a half seasons) inside the AP Top 25. He is also one of three college coaches to have ever beaten Nick Saban in back-to-back years (Ole Miss, 2014-15).

According to several reports, Freeze wanted the job a while back and still wants it now - even though he signed an extension with Liberty just a week ago, Freeze would be willing to come to Auburn if they came knocking.

He's a solid option that does not possess the same "splash hire" vibes that Kiffin and Sanders do.

Jeff Grimes - Baylor (OC)

MANHATTAN, KS - NOVEMBER 20: Baylor Bears offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes during a Big 12 football game between the Baylor Bears and Kansas State Wildcats on Nov 20, 2021 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, KS. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images) — Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire

Overall Record: 0-0

Head coaching experience: NONE

Other experience: Rice (GA), Texas A&M (GA), Hardin-Simmons (OL), Boise State (OL), Arizona State (OL), BYU (OL), Colorado (AHC/OL), Auburn (OL), Virginia Tech (OL), LSU (OL), BYU (OC), Baylor (OC/TE)

Grimes has the SEC connection as well as the Auburn ties - but he's never been a head coach before. Schematically, he's a versatile play-caller that has seen success in his two stops as OC. One would assume Grimes would immediately improve the offensive line play, but outside of his interesting scheme and strength in the trenches, there's not a lot to go off of here, especially considering he's never been a head coach anywhere.

Dan Lanning - Oregon

Oct 8, 2022; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports — Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Record at Oregon: 7-1

Overall Record: 7-1

Head coaching experience: Oregon

Other experience: Pittsburgh (GA), Arizona State (GA/RC), Sam Houston State (DB), Alabama (GA), Memphis (ILB), Georgia (DC/OLB)

Lanning is a first-year head coach that holds a lot of promise. He oversaw one of the best defenses of the 21st century at Georgia before moving to Oregon in the offseason. He picked up a quarterback and offensive coordinator with Auburn ties (Bo Nix, Kenny Dillingham) and has produced one of the best offenses in the entire nation.

Since the blowout loss to his former team in the season opener, Lanning's squad has gotten progressively better - and has torn through the Pac-12 slate thus far. He picked up six five-star commitments during his time at Georgia and has a solid recruiting track record. He produced two top-three defensive units with the Bulldogs and has all the things an SEC school would want - league experience, two national titles as GA and DC, recruiting talent, and the proven ability to develop talent.

There are rumors currently flying around about Auburn's interest in Lanning. While he is only in his first year with the Ducks, who is to say the Tigers aren't interested in making some arrangements to get him?