Finebaum on Auburn head coach search: ‘It’s a job you can turn into a gold mine’

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November 6, 2025

(Auburn University, Paul Finebaum Show, YHN)

The Auburn Tigers are searching for a new coach following the decision to fire Hugh Freeze after one of his worst losses in three years at home to the dreadful Kentucky Wildcats.

Everyone has an opinion as to who director of athletics John Cohen should tap to lead the program, but the unfortunate reality for the Tigers is they had to fire Freeze in a cycle where they are now also contending with the LSU Tigers and Florida Gators to hire a premiere head coach.

Naturally, this will make it tougher to end up with someone they want, but Auburn is still a wonderful job.

During an appearance on WNSP 105.5 FM in Mobile, SEC analyst Paul Finebaum weighed in and while he did say that The Plains may come in third behind LSU and Florida, he talked about what a special place it is as well.

“I think if you just do a beauty contest it ranks behind LSU and Florida, but I think Auburn is unique,” Finebaum said.

“It’s not a job everybody wants but I do think it’s a job that you can turn into a gold mine. Saturday night was evidence of that, the fact that 88,000 people showed up for on paper what was going to be a truly forgettable matchup and in reality it was even worse. But fans showed up because they love Auburn.”

“I think the right person down there can recruit, the alignment is probably as good as it’s been…if Auburn quits going through the who are the 10 hottest coaches and find the guy that makes the most sense, then I think they will be in very good shape,” he added.

Whether or not Auburn does in fact make the right hire remains to be seen, but there is no question as to whether Finebaum is correct or not. It is a special place and one to where if the right coach finally does arrive, they could be a sleeping giant.

Now, it’s up to Cohen and company to go and find that right coach.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.