Auburn University President Chris Roberts has seemingly set his sights on Utah State’s current athletic director, John Hartwell, to be the next AD on the Plains. Should that happen, it could mean a coaching candidate fans are split on could become the next Auburn football head coach.
The name in question? Current Baylor offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, who served as Auburn’s offensive line coach from 2009-2012 and experienced the highs of the national championship season in 2010 before feeling the crushing lows of Gene Chizik’s final season at 3-9.
Following the departure of Bryan Harsin’s first-year coordinator Mike Bobo, Grimes’ name popped up as a potential play-caller on the Plains. Now, he is rumored to replace the Boise native altogether.
According to Jake Crain, that’d be a near certainty if Hartwell is picked to fill the AD seat currently occupied by Rich McGlynn and formerly occupied by Allen Greene IV, something that could happen at any moment:
If Hartwell becomes the next athletic director Auburn’s next head coach is likely Jeff Grimes
— Jake “JBOY” Crain (@JakeCrain_) October 15, 2022
John Hartwell a ‘leading candidate’ for AU AD job, Auburn football coach to be next AD’s first order of business
The idea of hiring someone and immediately tasking them with firing someone (Bryan Harsin) they had nothing to do with bringing on in the first place is a somewhat ridiculous ask, but then again, that’s why they get paid the big bucks. Once the next AD is hired, finding a new Auburn football coach will become that person’s first order of business.
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg mentioned Hartwell as the leading candidate in AU’s search in his latest coaching carousel piece (subscription required):
"“Utah State athletic director John Hartwell (an Alabama native who led Troy’s athletic department and spent about a decade as an Ole Miss administrator) is considered a leading candidate.”"
Signs seem to be pointing to Hartwell, but truthfully, this process has been a slow one and continues to be that way. An official announcement is probably several weeks away, possibly at the end of the season.