Auburn coach Bryan Harsin is facing scrutiny from university administrators amid significant turnover within the program.
The program has faced suggestions that Harsin treated players poorly during his first season as football coach in 2021. The high staff turnover has also raised eyebrows, including the abrupt resignation of offensive coordinator Austin Davis less than two months after being hired. Defensive coordinator Derek Mason also departed after one season to take the same role at Oklahoma State.
Pressure increased Friday when defensive tackle Lee Hunter, who transferred from Auburn to UCF during the offseason, claimed on Instagram that Tigers players were “treated like we wasn’t good enough and like dogs.” Hunter also said Harsin “has the true mindset for a winner but has a terrible mindset as a person.”
Defensive back Smoke Monday, who ended his Auburn career last season, echoed Hunter on his own Instagram.
Smoke Monday on his Instagram story responding to Lee Hunter: “Love auburn to death but this is real and true and I was at auburn for 4 years and it never felt like how it felt this past season… he (Harsin) truly don’t understand kids that come from nothing.” pic.twitter.com/nkAPgeRWBM
— Christian Clemente (@CClemente247) February 4, 2022
Notably, Auburn linebackers Chandler Wooten and Derick Hall both defended Harsin on Twitter, with Hall claiming the team is behind Harsin “100% no matter what’s being said.”
The noise has gotten to the point that Harsin’s immediate future is in question. John Talty of AL.com reported Friday that there has been a “concerted effort” from some to force Harsin out.
Here's what I'm comfortable saying: There's been a concerted effort to ramp up pressure and make it untenable for Bryan Harsin to return for Year 2. And Harsin has provided plenty of ammo from coaching departures to transfer portal exodus. Situation moving fast.
— John Talty (@JTalty) February 4, 2022
University administrators are looking into claims from players, according to Chris Low and Pete Thamel of ESPN. There are serious questions about Harsin’s treatment of players and assistant coaches, and Auburn president Jay Gogue admitted Friday that administrators are “trying to separate fact from fiction.”
Harsin himself told ESPN that any attack on his character was “bulls—” and that he remained committed to Auburn long-term.
There were murmurs of discontent from one Auburn player in January, but the situation has truly erupted in the last week. If Auburn is even considering a change at this stage of the offseason, it’s a sign of very real issues within the program that cannot be fixed by the current coach.
Photo: Oct 16, 2021; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Bryan Harsin during the fourth quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Auburn won 38-23. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
