Former Boise State football coach Harsin fired by Auburn after less than two seasons
Former Boise State football coach Bryan Harsin has been fired at Auburn, the SEC program announced Monday morning.
Harsin left his alma mater to take the Auburn job following the 2020 season. The Tigers are 3-5 this year after a 41-27 loss to Arkansas on Saturday, and Harsin went 9-12 in almost two seasons with the program.
Auburn President Christopher Roberts made the decision, according to a press release, and the search for Harsin’s replacement will begin immediately. Former Auburn running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams will serve as interim head coach.
breaking: Auburn has fired HC Bryan Harsin, per a release from the school pic.twitter.com/BBQeh4nOYM
— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) October 31, 2022
Harsin went 69-19 in seven years as Boise State’s head coach (2014-2020), which included three Mountain West championships and a win over Arizona in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl — the Broncos’ only appearance in a New Year’s Six game in the past decade.
His first season on The Plains was marred by a mass exodus of players — including star quarterback Bo Nix, who transferred to Oregon — and turnover on the coaching staff.
Harsin fired offensive coordinator Mike Bobo after last season ended, and Bobo’s successor, former Seattle Seahawks assistant coach Austin Davis, resigned for personal reasons after less than two months on the job. Defensive coordinator Derek Mason also took a $400,000 pay cut to assume the same role at Oklahoma State.
Earlier this year, Auburn opened an investigation because of all the turnover in the program.
Harsin signed a six-year, $31.5 million deal at Auburn in 2020. For firing him without cause, the university owes the coach 70% of his remaining salary, which is about $15 million.
Boise State coaches have had a hard time finding success at their next stop in recent years. Harsin, Dan Hawkins (Colorado) and interim offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter (Arizona State) have all been fired by the programs they left the Broncos for.
Chris Petersen is the lone exception. He took over at Washington in 2014 and went 55-26 in five seasons with the Huskies. He stepped down following the 2019 season.
