Auburn football: Why Zak Hill could be Bryan Harsin’s first choice OC

Auburn footballArizona State University head football coach Herm Edwards speaks with newly hired offensive coordinator Zak Hill during practice at the Verde Dickey Dome on campus in Tempe, Tuesday, December 17, 2019.Asu Football
Auburn footballArizona State University head football coach Herm Edwards speaks with newly hired offensive coordinator Zak Hill during practice at the Verde Dickey Dome on campus in Tempe, Tuesday, December 17, 2019.Asu Football

The hunt is on for the new Auburn football offensive coordinator after Mike Bobo was sent packing with just one season on the Plains under his belt. Several names have emerged as possible candidates, including former Auburn player and coach Dell McGee, who is currently at UGA.

While having the former Auburn football cornerback on staff would be an all-star move for head coach Bryan Harsin, reports indicate that the Tigers hope to have a new hire as quickly as possible, and it could prove difficult to pull McGee away from a team that is about to make a legitimate run for a title.

Coach Harsin proved he likes to hire familiar faces earlier this season when he tabbed former Boise State OC and quarterbacks coach Eric Kiesau to take over the wide receivers room from Cornelius Williams, and it’s possible that he could be looking to go that route again with his next hire.

Arizona State offensive coordinator Zak Hill could be Harsin’s number one choice for the vacant position due to his experience in playcalling and his experience at Boise State. That’s right, Hill served as Boise State’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Harsin from 2016-2019, and he could be interested in teaming back up with his former HC.

FootballScoop.com reports that under Hill’s coaching in 2020, the Boise State offense finished in the top 2 in the Mountain West for three consecutive years, and he would be joining fellow former Boise State coaches Brad Bedell and Eric Kiesau.

If it takes familiar faces for Harsin to have success in 2022, then that’s who he needs to hire because he can’t afford to have another no-win November next season and expect to stick around.