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Auburn football: Bryan Harsin, Gus Malzahn, and every CFB HC change

By Mary Kate Hughes

Auburn football head coach Gus Malzahn walks the field at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, before a game against Oregon on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019.Jc Auburnoregon 20
Auburn football head coach Gus Malzahn walks the field at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, before a game against Oregon on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019.Jc Auburnoregon 20 /
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As usual, the college football head coaching carousel has been making its laps before the start of the 2021 season. Auburn football is just one of 15 FBS programs that switched up their head coach this year, replacing Gus Malzahn with Bryan Harsin.

Here’s a look at all 15 head coaching changes so far:

Arizona: Kevin Sumlin to Jedd Fisch

After three seasons with Arizona, Kevin Sumlin was fired on the heels of a 70-7 loss to rival Arizona State, maintaining a record 12-game losing streak. He will be replaced in 2021 by Jedd Fisch, the New England Patriots quarterback coach. Though the bulk of Fisch’s coaching experience is in the NFL, he’s also held positions at Power 5 schools.

Arkansas State: Blake Anderson to Butch Jones

Blake Anderson will leave Arkansas State to take the HC position at Utah State after seven seasons with the Red Wolves. Per Whole Hog Sports, just over 48 hours after Anderson’s resignation, Butch Jones was hired away from Alabama, where he spent the past three seasons as an assistant on Nick Saban’s staff.

Auburn football: Gus Malzahn to Bryan Harsin

In a somewhat surprising fashion, Auburn fired HC Gus Malzahn after eight seasons on the Plains following a 6-5 run this past year. If you feel a lingering sense of deja vu, Bryan Harsin is Gus Malzahn’s replacement just as he was back in 2013. Hailing from Boise State, Harsin maintained a 69-19 record with the Broncos and is a step in a completely different direction for the Auburn football program.

Boise State: Bryan Harsin to Andy Avalos

Bryan Harsin was replaced at his alma mater by Oregon defensive coordinator Andy Avalos, who played linebacker for the Broncos from 2001-2005 and later coached on the defensive staff from 2016-2018. Since 1998, Boise State has hired an assistant within the program or a former player as their head coach.

Illinois: Lovie Smith to Bret Bielema

After five seasons at Illinois and an abysmal 17-39 overall record, Lovie Smith was fired from the HC position and replaced with Bret Bielema, who will return to the Big Ten from the NFL. Bielema was formerly head coach at Wisconsin before becoming an assistant with the New York Giants.

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