After scoring only three points at home in a night game against one of the worst teams in the SEC, the Auburn Tigers finally decided to part ways with head coach Hugh Freeze. He was fired one day after the 10-3 loss to Kentucky, and defensive coordinator DJ Durkin was named interim head coach by Athletic Director John Cohen.
Both Cohen and Durkin addressed the media in a press conference on Monday, and while Cohen's focus is on starting the search for the next head coach immediately, Durkin stressed that he and the remaining coaches are focused on beating a tough Vanderbilt team next weekend.
As defensive coordinator, Durkin has had his unit operating at a high level all season long, and the defense is the main reason that so many of the Tigers' losses have been close games. Still, with head coaching experience, Durkin knows he will have to address issues on the offense too.
When asked about it in Monday's presser, Durkin revealed one major thing he plans to change, and that is who is in charge of calling the offensive plays.
“My communication with the offense has been more schematically from a defensive viewpoint," Durkin said. "That’s my background and what I know. I’m certainly not going to try to step in to be doing things that aren’t in my wheelhouse, but from those terms of, here’s some things defensively viewing that where we could help and offer suggestions that way.
"Derrick Nix will be the play caller. He’ll be the play caller every down. He’s the sole play caller, and I have extreme confidence in Derrick. Derrick and I have worked together at previous stops, as well. Derrick is a great person, a great coach and I think the players really responded to him and understand where he’s coming from. I think Derrick’s going to do a great job, and we will be aggressive in everything we do.”
The Tigers return to action this weekend against Vanderbilt in Nashville with kickoff set for 3:00 p.m.