aubiefifty 18,231 Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 247sports.com Notes & quotes: Auburn's coaching change ByPhillip Marshall 6-7 minutes Manage The Bryan Harsin Era has begun at Auburn even as players return to campus to begin preparations for Friday's game against No. 14 Northwestern in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Harsin, introduced Thursday as Auburn's 27th head coach, will be back in town to begin putting his program together. He will meet face-to-face with his players for the first time and will begin the hard work of putting his staff together. Go inside for notes and quotes about Harsin's decision to leave for Boise State for Auburn and what lies ahead. KEVIN STEELE’S AUBURN FUTURE One of the more interesting developments to follow in the days ahead will be what happens with defensive coordinator Kevin Steele. First, Steele will remain the interim head coach through Friday’s Citrus Bowl. What then? Will new head coach Brian Harsin have interest in retaining Steele? Will Steele have any interest in staying? Steele has two years left on a guaranteed contract that pays him $2.5 million per year. If he leaves on his own, he likely won’t be paid. If he is not retained, he will be owed $5 million. HARSIN’S COACHING STAFF It is logical to expect that a number of Harsin’s assistant coaches, because he arrives from another part of the country, won’t be familiar names to Auburn supporters. It is, however, logical to expect that he will want some coaches who are familiar with the SEC and have recruited in the SEC. How many if any of the current staff members will be retained? Harsin only says that he wants to talk to all of them one-on-one. That’s normal procedure for a new head coach. HARSIN AT BOISE STATE Other than this season, when the Broncos played just seven games, Harsin won at least nine games in six of his seven seasons. He was 12-2 in 2014, 9-4 in 2015, 10-3 in 2016, 11-3 in 2017, 10-3 in 2018, 12-2 in 2019 and 5-2 this season. BOISE STATE PRESIDENT ON HARSIN Here’s what Boise State president Marlene Tromp said after Harsin made the move to Auburn after seven seasons as the Broncos’ head coach. “Bryan Harsin has contributed to Boise State University as a student-athlete, as an assistant coach and in his last seven seasons as our head coach. We are proud of what he has been able to accomplish on The Blue, and we wish him the very best of luck at Auburn.” HARSIN’S OPPORTUNITIES During his time as offensive coordinator at Boise State, Harsin had offers from Alabama and LSU. He finally agreed to leave Boise for Texas in 2011. After two seasons, he was named head coach at Arkansas State. After one season at Arkansas State, he returned to Boise State as head coach. AUBURN PLAYERS RETURN TODAY Auburn players will return to campus today to begin preparations for Friday’s game against Northwestern in the Citrus Bowl. Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele was named interim head coach after Gus Malzahn was fired. Though Bryan Harsin was introduced as the new head coach Friday, Steele is expected to coach the team in the bowl game. Harsin said Thursday he looks forward to meeting with his new team face-to-face. He’s already met them via Zoom. Whether that will be today or later in the week is uncertain. Auburn (6-4) has not practice since a 26-10 win at Mississippi State in its season finale. Northwestern (6-2) finished No. 14 in the final College Football Playoff rankings and lost 22-10 to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Wildcats practiced on campus last week before breaking for Christmas. HARSIN’S LOVE FOR BOISE STATE Harsin has left Boise State for Auburn, but his love for the Broncos’ program has not waned. He grew up in Boise and was a Boise State quarterback, assistant coach, offensive coordinator and finally the head coach. “Once a Bronco, always a Bronco,” Harsin said Thursday. A PLAY FOR THE AGES Remember the two-point conversion statue of liberty play that lifted Boise State to a 43-42 overtime victory in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2007. As the Boise offensive coordinator, Harsin called the play. "We've talked about that game for many years, and I really think that game is its own entity,” said in a previous interview. “I really do. I understand that for our program that I was there and I was part of it, but in the history of college football it is its own entity. Anybody that has ever watched it or gets a chance to watch it realizes that it is special.” HOW PREVIOUS AUBURN COACHES STARTED THEIR CAREERS Here is a look at previous head coaches arrived at Auburn over the past 70 years and how they did in their first seasons: Here is a look at previous head coaches arrived at Auburn over the past 70 years and how they did in their first seasons: Shug Jordan (1951-1975): Named head coach in 1951 when Earl Brown was fired after an 0-10 season. Went 5-5 his first season. Won the national championship in 1957. Doug Barfield (1976-1980): Took over as head coach for the 1976 season. Jordan announced his retirement in the spring of 1975 and Barfield was named as what would now be called coach-in-waiting. Jordan’s final team went 3-6-2 in 1975. Barfield went 3-8 in 1976. Pat Dye (1981-1992): Named head coach in January of 1981 when Barfield was fired after a 5-6 season. Went 5-6 his first season. Won four SEC championships. Terry Bowden (1993-1998): Named head coach in 1993 when Dye resigned after the 1992 season. Went 11-0 in his first season and won his first 20 games. Tommy Tuberville (1999-2008); Named head coach in November of 1998 after Bowden left at midseason and was replaced by interim coach Bill Oliver. The 1998 team finished 3-8. Tuberville went 5-6 in his first season. Won the SEC championship and had a perfect record in 2004. Gene Chizik (2009-2012): Named head coach when Tuberville resigned after going 5-7 in 2008. Went 8-5 in his first season. Won the national championship and SEC championship in 2010. Gus Malzahn: (2013-2020): Named head coach in December 2012 when Chizik was fired after a 3-9 season. Went 12-2 his first season, won the SEC championship and played in the BCS Championship Game. ">247Sports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sani-Freeze 552 Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 How the heck do we owe a DC $5M guaranteed? Goodness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AubieinNC2009 79 Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 7 minutes ago, Sani-Freeze said: How the heck do we owe a DC $5M guaranteed? Goodness. Because everyone is worried about Steele's state retirement we couldn't risk him leaving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j0hnnyRingo 1,445 Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 46 minutes ago, Sani-Freeze said: How the heck do we owe a DC $5M guaranteed? Goodness. The money guys like Steele and gave him a fat contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yabo 30 Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 If Coach Steele violated one of the clauses in his contract he could be terminated at any time. I have not read his contract however if the coup rumors are true it is very likely that he did violate his contract. In that case Auburn doesn't owe the remainder of the contract. Guaranteed is only applicable if Steele honors his contractual obligation. Maybe Mr Rane will help his old friend out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j0hnnyRingo 1,445 Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 11 hours ago, Yabo said: If Coach Steele violated one of the clauses in his contract he could be terminated at any time. I have not read his contract however if the coup rumors are true it is very likely that he did violate his contract. In that case Auburn doesn't owe the remainder of the contract. Guaranteed is only applicable if Steele honors his contractual obligation. Maybe Mr Rane will help his old friend out. Just a reminder that the rumors of this grand coup came out at the same time it was being reported that good ole Billy Clark was turning down a job offer from Auburn to stay at UAB... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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