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Posted on 11/5/25 at 7:36 am to metafour
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That's been my concern since before Hugh was fired, and we started having these, "Keep DJ," conversations. Like it, or not, we're, most likely, in a situation where we roll the dice, give him the job, or lose him. I ask, hoping there's a chance, while understanding it's highly unlikely.
We have to be careful here. We're looking for the right man to lead the program into the future 5,10, or 15 years. If DJ is that guy, let's roll; but, please, get HIM, whoever HIM is
quote:
he doesn't end up the permanent HC, then the likelihood of him ending up back as the DC simply isn't very high
That's been my concern since before Hugh was fired, and we started having these, "Keep DJ," conversations. Like it, or not, we're, most likely, in a situation where we roll the dice, give him the job, or lose him. I ask, hoping there's a chance, while understanding it's highly unlikely.
We have to be careful here. We're looking for the right man to lead the program into the future 5,10, or 15 years. If DJ is that guy, let's roll; but, please, get HIM, whoever HIM is
Posted on 11/5/25 at 7:42 am to smuphy72
quote:
is extremely well thought of
By whom?
Posted on 11/5/25 at 7:47 am to michaeldwde
You could keep him if you hire an offensive guy but not a defensive guy. I think it would depend if DJ has a relationship with the new HC or not
Posted on 11/5/25 at 7:55 am to smuphy72
quote:
Charles Kelly would be third place at the moment and his ability to put a top end staff together is what is getting his name mentioned. Plus he played for Coach Dye and is extremely well thought of.
Lord.
I heard that Jeremy Pruitt had struck a deal with the NCAA/SEC on his show cause and he is becoming an analyist at JSU.
This post was edited on 11/5/25 at 8:03 am
Posted on 11/5/25 at 7:58 am to jvilletiger25
quote:
And none of the big schools are even considering him.
Auburn had to make him the 2nd highest paid coordinator in football (at the time) to keep him from going to Ohio State.
Posted on 11/5/25 at 8:12 am to IAmNERD
If durkin does well the next three games give him the keys and let's ride. It's obvious the players love him. Give him the ability to hire a great offensive coordinator, oline coach, and someone to recruit and develop a Flippin QB. Give him a raise and an incentive based contract and see what happens. Hey it could be worse we could still have Freeze or Harsin
Posted on 11/5/25 at 8:15 am to TailbackU
The defense has been amazing, but I don't have much of an opinion on Durkin right now as HC. It is nice we get to see a trial run.
If we pass him over, expect him to leave. But that is part of the risk. And if we are being honest, defense has been a strength at AU for most of our time with the "offensive guys" we have hired as HC.
I like his passion, but we need to see how he does with the team overall in these remaining games. He is literally the only possible coach we get to kick the tires with.
If we pass him over, expect him to leave. But that is part of the risk. And if we are being honest, defense has been a strength at AU for most of our time with the "offensive guys" we have hired as HC.
I like his passion, but we need to see how he does with the team overall in these remaining games. He is literally the only possible coach we get to kick the tires with.
Posted on 11/5/25 at 8:15 am to Blueline379
No way Cohen will hire Durkin unless out of options. To much risk for JC IMO and his job is on the line with this one
I’m a DJ guy, just don’t think JC can
I’m a DJ guy, just don’t think JC can
Posted on 11/5/25 at 8:25 am to attalla
quote:
You could keep him if you hire an offensive guy but not a defensive guy. I think it would depend if DJ has a relationship with the new HC or not
Anything is possible. That's why I asked, originally. We have to try to make him so cool with not getting the job, that his relationship with Auburn remains strong.
Auburn is a great place, so I wouldn't rule it out. They talked Hugh into hanging onto Caddy, so, we have precedent.
That said, no one should be surprised if the next guy doesn't want the last guy looking over his shoulder, or upset when the last guy can't get on board with this guy, because he felt he deserved the job.
It's all a difficult needle to thread.
Posted on 11/5/25 at 8:27 am to attalla
Don't we have a pinned post for this? But Durkin winning all 3 of these games is a way, that's mostly it.
Posted on 11/5/25 at 8:28 am to IAmNERD
quote:
Auburn had to make him the 2nd highest paid coordinator in football (at the time) to keep him from going to Ohio State.
Yeah for DC. Ohio State wouldn’t ever think about hiring him for HC, which is what we’re discussing here.
Posted on 11/5/25 at 8:43 am to jvilletiger25
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I frankly don’t care if he leaves or not, but he is the second highest paid coordinator in the country. How many of those schools will match his current salary?
Coordinator salaries are going to go up each year just like head coach salaries will. Given Durkin's performance this season, he will likely get a boost in salary again even if he somehow stays at Auburn as the DC. If he is retained at Auburn, it will be with a new contract which will bump up his salary.
Penn State, LSU, Florida, and all of the other schools that are going to need to hire a DC are going to pay the 2026 projected market rate for an elite coordinator. They aren't going to be paying last year's market rate when Durkin signed that extension.
Posted on 11/5/25 at 8:43 am to Beachbum87
Do you think we could beat a top 10 team under any circumstances?
Posted on 11/5/25 at 8:46 am to jvilletiger25
quote:
Yeah for DC. Ohio State wouldn’t ever think about hiring him for HC, which is what we’re discussing here.
Given the same situation as Auburn, of course they would.
Look at Ryan Day.
Posted on 11/5/25 at 9:01 am to smuphy72
This program is so dead if we hire Jimmy and Larry Blakeney's Troy boy over Durkin or Glenn Schumann. Do you not see Dan Lanning and Kirby Smart - Helloooooo!!!!!
Posted on 11/5/25 at 9:04 am to pdfield34
quote:
Look at Ryan Day.
I don’t recall Ryan Day being a previous failure HC with baggage
Posted on 11/5/25 at 9:06 am to metafour
To add to your point on coordinator and HC salaries going up... if we have any shot at keeping Durkin it probably includes an additional raise and another job title. If he leaves he wont be accepting a penny less elsewhere.
Durkin has an agent too I am sure of it.
This board loves to talk about heavily incentivized short contracts gospel but as long as someone else needs a good HC or good DC rates will go up.
Durkin has an agent too I am sure of it.
This board loves to talk about heavily incentivized short contracts gospel but as long as someone else needs a good HC or good DC rates will go up.
Posted on 11/5/25 at 9:08 am to pdfield34
Why didn't Texas A&M promote Durkin to HC after Jimbo was fired?
Why did they hire Elko away from mighty Duke football instead?
You need to take in every data point available. Just two years ago another SEC team had Durkin on their staff as the DC and ended up firing the HC, and they had no interest in giving their now vacant HC job to Durkin.
So what changed in ~2 years for Durkin to now be a no-brainer at Auburn?
Why did they hire Elko away from mighty Duke football instead?
You need to take in every data point available. Just two years ago another SEC team had Durkin on their staff as the DC and ended up firing the HC, and they had no interest in giving their now vacant HC job to Durkin.
So what changed in ~2 years for Durkin to now be a no-brainer at Auburn?
Posted on 11/5/25 at 9:24 am to metafour
I actually like Durkin a lot. I think if you play the odds about promotions and assistants and who have gone on to reasonably big success, he's as good a candidate as any. I think he's got the attitude we like, obviously he's a strong coordinator. I don't hold the HC experience against him - I actually mark it in his favor. He's seen how it all works in the most trying and political of situations.
That said, I am concerned about the emotionalism/short term thinking involved - ie, can he beat Vandy/Bama, do the players love him, can he keep a short term roster together, so forth. He's calling recruits on Sunday and burning the late hours - well yeah, he's auditioning for the job of his life.
I think it's a close line between not giving him credit for that stuff and overvaluing it in a unique situation, and candidly I'm not sure how to judge it as a fan.
That said, I am concerned about the emotionalism/short term thinking involved - ie, can he beat Vandy/Bama, do the players love him, can he keep a short term roster together, so forth. He's calling recruits on Sunday and burning the late hours - well yeah, he's auditioning for the job of his life.
I think it's a close line between not giving him credit for that stuff and overvaluing it in a unique situation, and candidly I'm not sure how to judge it as a fan.
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