Auburn, Hugh Freeze have discussed coaching job, sources say

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Sources told Pete Thamel that Liberty's Hugh Freeze has been in discussions with the school's next football coach.

The sides have informally discussed a contract for more than a week and are not expected to make a formal offer until after the Iron Bowl.

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said earlier this week that he would stay with the Rebels even if theTigers offered him their head-coaching position. According to sources, Kiffin told the Ole Miss staff that he is staying at the school.

Sources told Low that the new athletic director narrowed the search to Kiffin and Freeze.

Freeze left Ole Miss to return to the SEC. After he was found to have used a university-supplied cellphone to call a number associated with an escort service, Freeze resigned from the Ole Miss football team.

Ole Miss was banned from playing in a bowl game for two years for violating NCAA rules under Freeze.

According to the NCAA report, Freeze did not receive a show-cause penalty and promoted an atmosphere of compliance, despite being cited for failing to monitor his assistant coaches.

The Flames had a 53-year-old named Freeze. In his first three seasons, Freeze went 8-5, 10-1 and 8-5, after Turner Gill went 6/6 in Liberty's first full-time FBS season. The Cure Bowl victory was part of that run.

The Flames defeated Arkansas on Nov. 5.

According to sources, Freeze's history of winning made him attractive. Freeze was considered an elite fit in the community because of his outgoing nature.

In October, Freeze signed a new contract with Liberty. According to sources, he was one of the highest paid coaches in the Group of 5.

The four-game losing streak cost Bryan Harsin his job at auburn. In less than two years at auburn, Harsin was 9-12 and had difficulty sustaining success on the recruiting trail. Half of the $15.5 million was due within 30 days of Harsin's dismissal.

Cadillac Williams is a former star running back at the school.

The third head coach in the last four years would be Freeze. At the end of the 2020 season, Malzahn was fired by UCF and Harsin was let go after two seasons.

Malzahn's first season at the helm of the Tigers ended in disappointment when they lost to Florida State in the national title game.