Four weeks into Auburn football’s 2021 season, there has been yet another coaching change. After a poor performance from the wide receiver corps in the Tigers’ last two matchups, first-year head coach Bryan Harsin made the decision to fire WR coach Cornelius Williams.
Williams was spending his first season on the Plains after having coached the receivers at Troy for the previous six years. Auburn Live reports that Eric Kiesau, current Auburn analyst who spent 2017-2019 coaching Boise State’s wide receivers and worked as Harsin’s offensive coordinator in 2020, will replace Williams.
The firing has been met with mixed reactions from fans, leaving many feeling as though Harsin may have acted unfairly in dismissing Williams so quickly. After all, the receivers were an inherited group that was not recruited by Cornelius Williams in the first place. And now what does Auburn football tell the class of 2022 commits and future WR prospects who had built relationships with Williams?
As it does, the speculation began, and fans were curious if more than just the on-field performance of the receivers pushed Harsin to make the decision:
Breaking News : The Auburn Tigers have fired their WR coach [Cornelius Williams]
— CFBLIVE247 (@CFBLive247_) September 26, 2021
Williams was hired by AU this off season but the marriage has already come to an end.
Firing a WR after 4 games is insane In my opinion, especially when the team is just lacking at that position.. pic.twitter.com/Ba6X4dOrej
It has to be more behind this Cornelius Williams firing.
— The Artist Formerly Known as C. (@_GivemHellDale) September 26, 2021
Cornelius Williams out as WR coach per @_JHokanson. The receivers have definitely struggled through 4 games, but firing a 1st year coach in a new regime before October is rash. Wonder if it’s something more than on-field performance?
— College & Magnolia (@CollegeAndMag) September 26, 2021
Not sure why that happened but you are right, WR has not been the worst group so why single out C-Will? Sure there is more to it
— Jim (@Posonic) September 26, 2021
There is very little information being released about the firing at this point. Bryan Harsin has not yet made a public statement, but keep checking back to Fly War Eagle to stay updated on the latest news.