Jay Jacobs is in control of Auburn athletics

Jay Jacobs is the most powerful Auburn athletics director since Pat Dye.

For 10 years in the big office, David Housel’s options were limited in a lot of areas. When it came to hiring and firing coaches in major sports and other major decisions, there were lots of fingers in the pie.

It became obvious just how dysfunctional the situation was when Housel, trustees Earlon McWhorter and Byron Franklin and president William Walker sneaked away to interview Bobby Petrino two days before the Iron Bowl in 2003.

The trip, along with its atrocious timing, wasn’t Housel’s decision. It was Walker’s. That, along with SACS probation that hit shortly thereafter, changed the way the Auburn athletic department runs.

Even before Housel officially retired, Hal Baird took over as the man in charge of Auburn athletics. But Ed Richardson, who followed Walker as president, was determined to make final hiring decisions. He wouldn’t seriously consider hiring Mike Anderson as basketball coach. He rejected John Pawlowski as baseball coach.

Six years later, Jacobs is firmly in charge of Auburn athletics. He made the call, controversial at the time, to hire Gene Chizik as football coach. He’ll make the call on whether Jeff Lebo returns as basketball coach and he’ll make the call on who replaces Lebo if a change is made.

President Jay Gogue puts it very succinctly: “I don’t fire coaches. I fire athletics directors.”

And that’s as it should be.

No one operates in a vacuum. I’m certain there are people who Jacobs turns to for advice and counsel. But the final decisions are his. The Board of Trustees and president have their proper roles to play, too. But, in the final analysis, for the first time in a long time, the drama and intrigue that were so much a part of Auburn athletics for so long are gone.

And that is refreshing.

Article courtesy AuburnUndercover.com

Texas Tech Hires Tommy Tuberville

Former Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville has agreed to become the next head coach at Texas Tech. AuburnUndercover.com has confirmed that Tuberville will be named Sunday to replace Mike Leach, who was fired after being accused of mistreating a player. Tuberville resigned at Auburn in 2008 after winning 85 games in 10 seasons. He did not coach this season, dabbling in broadcasting with ESPN. Tuberville and interim head coach Ruffin McNeill were apparently the only candidates interviewed for the job replacing Leach, who won 84 games in 10 seasons at Texas Tech. Tuberville is 110-60 in 14 seasons as a head coach, four of them at Ole Miss. – AuburnUndercover.com

FSU hires former Auburn star Dameyune Craig

New Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher is adding one of the top young coaches in the country to his first Seminoles staff. Former Auburn quarterback Dameyune Craig will join the Florida State staff under Fisher, multiple sources have told NoleInsider.com in recent days. This will be Craig’s third stint as either a player or coach under Fisher, who was his position coach at Auburn. In 2004, he was a graduate assistant at LSU under Fisher. He left in 2005 to coach under Nick Saban as a special teams assistant for the Miami Dolphins. Following two years as the quarterbacks coach at Division II Tuskegee (Ala.), he joined the staff at South Alabama in his hometown of Mobile, Ala., where he currently is the receivers coach. It is not known what position Craig will coach at this time. He could possibly coach quarterbacks or co-coach the receivers with Lawrence Dawsey. – NoleInsider.com

Tommy Tuberville has interest in Kansas job

Former Auburn and Ole Miss football coach Tommy Tuberville would like to hear from Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins about the open KU job, Tuberville told The Star on Thursday. Tuberville, who led Auburn to a perfect season in 2004, said he had been contacted by some other schools about their vacancies but wasn’t interested. “Kansas is a good program,” said Tuberville, 55. “It’s in a conference that you can compete in. It’s really come leaps and bounds over the last few years, going to the Orange Bowl a couple years ago. Obviously, Kansas has made a reputation in basketball, and that’s great. But I think that can just help the football program. You can win in both sports.” – Kansas City Star

Gus Malzahn mentioned for head coaching

Gus Malzahn arrived in Auburn 10 months ago. A few other schools may try to keep his stay under a year. Auburn’s offensive coordinator has been mentioned in connection with openings at both Memphis and Western Kentucky. Both schools fired their head coaches this week and may consider Malzahn as a replace ment. “I’m flattered if my name gets thrown around, I guess, but I’m extremely happy here,” he said Tuesday night. “We’ve got big goals, big dreams here. I’m committed to that. That’s the only thing on my mind.” Malzahn is in the first season of a three-year deal worth $1.05 million. The situation could put coach Gene Chizik in a difficult situation. After all, Malzahn was the first hire Chizik made after getting the Tigers’ job December and the team’s offensive system is a critical part of the program’s resurgence. – Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn’s bad coaching is leading it from one defeat to another

Auburn’s once promising season suddenly hangs in the balance. Some reasonable people warn it’s too early to hit the panic button for Auburn. Others hang their head, wondering if it’s too late. So what happened? How did the same Auburn coaches who looked like real men of genius a few weeks ago suddenly become dunces? Some want to blame the transition. Some want to blame Tommy Tuberville. Still others want to lament a lack of depth. But doesn’t that usually show up late in the fourth quarter when your team begins to wear down? This Auburn team looks beaten right after the coin flip… But what about coaching? Against Arkansas, the Tigers showed up listless and limp, falling behind 34-3. Against LSU, it was the same chapter, different verse, getting down 31-3. Can I get a second for a motion to make Gus Malzahn SEC Assistant Coach of the Year by acclamation?… Do the math. In two consecutive road games, the Tigers have been out of games before the uniforms got dirty, trailing by a total of 65-6. This wasn’t against the Denver Broncos or the New Orleans Saints. Auburn fell behind 34-3 to an Arkansas team fresh off a 35-7 pounding to Alabama. LSU has looked a little better, but it still took a miracle goal line stand to beat Mississippi State. Can we say lousy coaching? I say give Gene Chizik a contract extension before someone comes and steals him away. After all, that 10-22 record as a head coach would be tough to turn down. One can only imagine that his agent’s phone is blowing up right now with calls from Louisville and Virginia. One thing is for sure — they don’t want him back at Iowa State. Did you notice over the weekend that his successor won at Nebraska (first time since 1977) and matched Chizik’s two-year total of victories?… This coaching staff looks clueless and naive. The players look out of synch and unmotivated. And that future — remember the one that once looked so bright that every Auburn fan had to wear big sunglasses — suddenly looks dark and depressing. – Mobile Press-Register

Ex-Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville not all wrong

Tommy Tuberville had the right idea. He just had the wrong coach. The spread offense, under offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, has fit Auburn better than green on grass. Tuberville knew that’s what Auburn needed but the pass-first, run-second philosophy of Tony Franklin wasn’t what Auburn needed. The hiring of Franklin, at least in part, cost Tuberville his job. But he had the right idea. – Huntsville Times

Gene Chizik, Auburn Earning Respect

Auburn head coach Gene Chizik - Funny, but where have are all the cries gone that Chizik is unqualified for a head job in the SEC? Shredded from every angle after he was plucked from an unsuccessful tenure at Iowa State, he has the Tigers sitting at 5-0 and about to enter the Top 25. Beating Tennessee in Knoxville accomplished what the first four victories couldn’t—earning Auburn respect as the next best thing to Florida, Alabama, and LSU in the SEC. – CFN

Miami, Texas A&M Eyeing Tommy Tuberville?

Randy Shannon, Miami - School record: 12-13, third season - Why he’s in trouble: The Hurricanes open with a brutal schedule — at Florida State, Georgia Tech at home, at Virginia Tech and Oklahoma at home. A poor start at a school that expects to win championships might tempt Miami to cut ties early to court former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, an ex-’Canes assistant. – Orlando Sentinel

Mike Sherman, Texas A&M - School record: 4-8, second season - Why he’s in trouble: Sherman took over an ailing program, but Aggies fans won’t be patient or tolerate of many more losses like last year’s stunner to Arkansas State. A&M was outscored 351-242 in Big 12 games. Tuberville’s availability could be a factor here, too; he was the defensive coordinator in 1994 when the Aggies went 10-0-1. – Orlando Sentinel

What is the state of Auburn Football?

With Gene Chizik days away from his first game as Auburn’s head football coach, what is the real state of the program he inherits?… Auburn has always been in an interesting position. Geographically, it is in an advantageous location. Prospects in Georgia, Florida and Alabama are within easy driving distance of the Auburn campus. But the problem is that Auburn isn’t the No. 1 recruiting power in any of those states… For the first time in a long time, there is no conflict between the football coaching staff and the administration. No one is squeezing the football program. Chizik is going to get most of the things he asks for. From all indications, everyone is on the same page. That’s a good thing… No fans anywhere are more passionate than Auburn fans. They love their school and they love their football program. Auburn fans, some of them anyway, tend to be pessimistic. Even in good times, they worry bad times are coming. And when they are unhappy, they don’t hide it… Auburn’s facilities are not bad. But when compared to Alabama, Florida and others, they lack the wow factor. And the wow factor matters these days… Auburn’s athletic department budget of some $80 million is in the upper echelon of the SEC… Add it all up and where does Auburn’s football program stand today? In my opinion, it stands at a crossroads. For most of the past decade, Auburn has been able to look the best in the SEC and the nation in the eye. But Florida, Georgia, Alabama and LSU have flung down the gauntlet. Can everything it takes for Auburn to keep up come together? History says it can happen, but that doesn’t mean it will. Even with commitment, courage and unity, the road ahead will be treacherous. We’ll see where it leads. – AuburnUndercover.com

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