Former Michigan defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin is getting another opportunity as a head coach, albeit on an interim basis.
Auburn fired head football coach Hugh Freeze on Sunday and named Durkin, the team’s defensive coordinator for the past two seasons, as the interim.
The Tigers lost to Kentucky 10-3 Saturday to fall to 4-5, but their defense ranks top-four in the SEC in points and yards allowed under Durkin.
“I have informed Coach Freeze of my decision to make a change in leadership with the Auburn Football program,” Auburn athletic director John Cohen said in a statement. “Coach Freeze is a man of integrity, and we are appreciative of his investment in Auburn and his relentless work over the last three years in bolstering our roster. Our expectations for Auburn Football are to annually compete for championships and the search for the next leader of Auburn Football begins immediately.”
Durkin last served as a head coach from 2016-18 at Maryland. The 47-year-old Ohio native was fired in 2018 at the end of a series of investigations surrounding the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair and the program’s culture under his leadership.
That was Durkin’s first full-time FBS head coaching job after guiding a Michigan defense in 2015 that allowed just 16.4 points per game, which ranked sixth nationally.
After one season as an analyst with the Atlanta Falcons, Durkin served as the defensive coordinator at Ole Miss (2020-21) and Texas A&M (2022-23).
He was hired by Freeze prior to the 2024 season. Auburn begins the Durkin era Saturday at Vanderbilt. The team needs two more wins to become bowl eligible.
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