The Auburn Tigers hired Alex Golesh as their fourth head coach since the 2020 season on Sunday, ending any speculation about DJ Durkin getting promoted from the interim to full-time headman on the Plains.
Golesh takes over a program that's been on a steady decline in the last five years. College Football is a funny thing, though. Sometimes failure doesn't mean the end of the line. There are enough job openings where we see questionable retreads reappear.
Auburn's last three coaches aren't all questionable retreads. Gus Malzahn has a respectable career and a championship ring as an offensive coordinator and a national championship game appearance as head coach with the Tigers. Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze? Not so much.
All three could land coaching jobs this offseason, though.
Ole Miss could consider a Hugh Freeze reunion
The chips are expected to be down for the Ole Miss Rebels this offseason after Lane Kiffin's reported departure from Oxford to Baton Rouge to be the LSU Tigers' next head coach. Could they be down bad enough to bring Freeze back as head coach after how his last tenure ended?
Absolutely not. Pete Golding is a strong contender to be promoted internally. Plus, hiring Freeze would be a PR nightmare in a time the University of Mississippi badly needs victories in the court of public opinion.
But Freeze being involved with his hometown team in some capacity isn't out of the realm of possibility. He has strong ties to the region and the state of Alabama, giving the Rebels a chance to recoup some recruiting clout with Kiffin's departure. The program made a new GM, since Billy Glasscock was hired by Kiffin.
Freeze knows how to accumulate talent. Crazier things have happened.
Gus Malzahn could make sense for USF
Malzahn has already coached on the Orlando side of the War on I4 rivalry, so why not the Tampa side?
After a shocking 31-17 upset win over the Alabama Crimson Tide as the Florida State Seminoles' offensive coordinator, Malzahn oversaw a malaise of an effort in Tallahassee with Thomas Castellanos under center. FSU is in a state of flux, and though they retained Mike Norvell, and Malzahn has a $3.6 million buyout, it's possible the 60-year-old could see a golden opportunity replacing Golesh with the USF Bulls.
If Golesh's tenure doesn't turn out well at AU, maybe Malzahn can set himself up for a return with a strong showing at USF.
Bryan Harsin could explore Group of 5 openings in Texas
Harsin's fit with the Cal Golden Bears was always a questionable one, and with Justin Wilcox now fired, the Boise, Idaho, native will likely be back on the market this offseason.
Several openings in the state of Texas, including the North Texas Mean Green, which are looking for an Eric Morris replacement, and the soon-to-be-Pac-12 Texas State Bobcats, which could soon be replacing G.J. Kinne if he finds a better-paying job elsewhere, could make sense for Harsin.
Harsin has extensive experience recruiting in the state from his time as the Texas Longhorns' co-offensive coordinator and the Arkansas State Red Wolves head coach.