Auburn football is in a state of ambiguity regarding the head coaching position. Bryan Harsin currently sits in the seat, but there’s a ticking clock on his tenure, and it’s unclear just how much sand is in the hourglass.
While his coaching record fell to 9-11 overall and 4-11 against Power Five opponents after a 48-34 spread-covering loss to Ole Miss on October 15 in Oxford, he did make coaching decisions that inspired a second-half comeback that had the game within a touchdown.
Still, until Harsin starts upsetting SEC West opponents in higher standing than the last-place Tigers — aka any of their upcoming opponents in the final five games outside of Western Kentucky — his job security will be in peril. That he couldn’t answer a simple question from reporters on if he’s been assured that he will stick around doesn’t inspire confidence that he’s not a lame duck on the Auburn football sidelines.
With the uncertainty of the program keeping the fanbase in a perpetual state of malaise, talking about the next head coach on social media has become a form of counseling for a fanbase that sinks further down bad each and every week during the 2022 season. One of the more talked about names from Tiger fans who aren’t getting their hopes up about Deion Sanders, Lane Kiffin, and the like is Jeff Grimes.
Grimes was on Gene Chizik’s national championship support staff and is currently the offensive coordinator for Baylor after serving in the same role at BYU during Zach Wilson’s final years before becoming the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Auburn football fans split on whether or not Jeff Grimes as qualified to be the next Tigers head coach
As it stands, Jeff Grimes’ resume has some endorsing him to be the next play-caller on the Plains, while others are not sold on his qualifications given his lack of head coaching experience in his 27-year coaching career.
Here is the pro Grimes portion of the fanbase:
And here are those opposed…
If Utah State AD John Hartwell is hired, Grimes appears to be the top name on his shortlist for next head coach.