List of Auburn Tigers head football coaches

Gene Chizik (left) and Gus Malzahn (right)

The Auburn Tigers college football team represents Auburn University in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Tigers compete as part of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The program has had 28 head coaches, and 3 interim head coaches, since it began play during the 1892 season.^[1] The Tigers current head coach is Hugh Freeze.^[2]

The team has played more than 1,300 games over 133 seasons.^[1] In that time, nine coaches have led the Tigers in postseason bowl games: Jack Meagher, Ralph Jordan, Pat Dye, Terry Bowden, Tommy Tuberville, Gene Chizik, Gus Malzahn, Bryan Harsin, and Freeze. Seven coaches won conference championships: Walter H. Watkins and Mike Donahue won a combined three as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association; Chet A. Wynne won one as a member of the Southern Conference; and Jordan, Dye, Tuberville, Chizik, and Malzahn won a combined eight as a member of the SEC.^[3] During their tenures, Jordan and Chizik each won a national championship with the Tigers.^[3][4]

Jordan is the leader in seasons coached and games won, with 176 victories during his 25 years with the program.^[1] M. S. Harvey and Johnny Floyd have the lowest winning percentage of those who have coached more than one game, with .000.^[1] Of the 26 different head coaches who have led the Tigers, John Heisman,^[5] Donahue,^[6] Jordan^[7] and Dye^[8] have been inducted as head coaches into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Key

Key to symbols in coaches list

General		Overall		Conference		Postseason[A 1]
No.	Order of coaches[A 2]	GC	Games coached	CW	Conference wins	PW	Postseason wins
DC	Division championships	OW	Overall wins	CL	Conference losses	PL	Postseason losses
CC	Conference championships	OL	Overall losses	CT	Conference ties	PT	Postseason ties
NC	National championships	OT	Overall ties[A 3]	C%	Conference winning percentage
†	Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame	O%	Overall winning percentage[A 4]

Coaches

List of head football coaches showing various statistics and awards^[A 5]

No.	Name	Season(s) [A 6]	GC	OW	OL	OT	O%	CW	CL	CT	C%	PW	PL	PT	DC [A 7]	CC	NC	Awards
1	George Petrie	1892	4	2	2	0	0.500	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	—
2	D. M. Balliet	1893	1	1	0	0	1.000	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	—
3	George Roy Harvey	1893	4	2	0	2	0.750	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	—
4	Forrest M. Hall	1894	4	1	3	0	0.250	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0	—
5	John Heisman^†	1895–1899	18	12	4	2	0.722	8	4	2	0.643	—	—	—	—	0	0	—
6	Walter H. Watkins	1900–1901	10	6	3	1	0.650	5	2	1	0.688	—	—	—	—	1	0	—
7	Ralph S. Kent	1902	5	2	2	1	0.500	2	2	1	0.500	—	—	—	—	0	0	—
8	M. S. Harvey	1902	2	0	2	0	.000	0	2	0	.000	—	—	—	—	0	0	—
9	William Penn Bates	1903	7	4	3	0	0.571	2	3	0	0.400	—	—	—	—	0	0	—
10	Mike Donahue^†	1904–1906 1908–1922	146	106	35	5	0.743	65	26	3	0.707	0	0	0	—	2	0	—
11	Willis Kienholz	1907	9	6	2	1	0.722	3	2	1	0.583	—	—	—	—	0	0	—
12	Boozer Pitts	1923–1924 1927	24	7	11	6	0.417	2	9	5	0.281	0	0	0	—	0	0	—
13	Dave Morey	1925–1927	21	10	10	1	0.500	6	7	1	0.464	0	0	0	—	0	0	—
14	George Bohler	1928–1929	14	3	11	0	0.214	0	10	0	.000	0	0	0	—	0	0	—
15	Johnny Floyd	1929	4	0	4	0	.000	0	4	0	.000	0	0	0	—	0	0	—
16	Chet A. Wynne	1930–1933	39	22	15	2	0.590	12	11	1	0.521	0	0	0	—	1	0	—
17	Jack Meagher	1934–1942	95	48	37	10	0.558	26	25	7	0.509	1	0	1	—	0	0	SEC Coach of the Year (1935)[14]
18	Carl M. Voyles	1944–1947	37	15	22	0	0.405	4	17	0	0.190	0	0	0	—	0	0	—
19	Earl Brown	1948–1950	29	3	22	4	0.172	2	18	2	0.136	0	0	0	—	0	0	—
20	Ralph Jordan^†	1951–1975	265	176	83	6	0.675	96	65	4	0.594	5	7	0	—	1	1 – 1957	AP SEC Coach of the Year (1953, 1957, 1972)[14] UPI SEC Coach of the Year (1963, 1972)[14] SEC Coach of the Year (1953, 1963, 1972)[14]
21	Doug Barfield	1976–1980	55	29	25	1	0.536	15	14	1	0.517	0	0	0	—	0	0	—
22	Pat Dye^†	1981–1992	142	95	39	4	0.707	43	27	3	0.609	6	2	1	0	4	0	AP SEC Coach of the Year (1987, 1988)[14] UPI SEC Coach of the Year (1983, 1988)[14] SEC Coach of the Year (1983, 1987, 1988)[14]
23	Terry Bowden[A 8]	1993–1998	65	47	17	1	0.731	28	15	1	0.647	2	1	0	1	0	0	FWAA Coach of the Year (1993)[17] George Munger Award (1993)[18] Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (1993)[19] Walter Camp Coach of the Year (1993)[20] AP SEC Coach of the Year (1993)[14]
Interim	Bill Oliver[A 8]	1998	5	2	3	—	0.400	0	3	—	.000	0	0	—	0	0	0	—
24	Tommy Tuberville	1999–2008	125	85	40	—	0.680	49	29	—	0.620	5	3	—	5	1	0	AFCA Coach of the Year (2004)[21] Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (2004)[19] Walter Camp Coach of the Year (2004)[20] AP Coach of the Year (2004)[22] AP SEC Coach of the Year (2004)[23]
25	Gene Chizik	2009–2012	52	33	19	—	0.635	15	17	—	0.469	3	0	—	1	1	1 – 2010	Home Depot Coach of the Year (2010)[24] Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award (2010)[25] Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (2010)[19] Bobby Bowden National Collegiate Coach of the Year Award (2010)[26] AP SEC Coach of the Year (2010)[27]
26	Gus Malzahn[A 9]	2013–2020	102	67	35	—	0.657	38	27	—	0.578	2	5	—	2	1	0	Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award (2013)[28] Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (2013)[29] Associated Press College Football Coach of the Year Award (2013)[30] Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award (2013)[31] Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year (2013) Home Depot Coach of the Year Award (2013)[32] SEC Coach of the Year (2013)[33]
Interim	Kevin Steele[A 9]	2020	1	0	1	—	.000	—	—	—	—	0	1	—	0	0	0	—
27	Bryan Harsin[A 10]	2021–2022	21	9	12	—	0.429	4	9	—	0.308	0	1	—	0	0	0	—
Interim	Cadillac Williams[34][A 10]	2022	4	2	2	—	0.500	1	2	—	0.333	0	0	—	0	0	0	—
28	Hugh Freeze[35]	2023–present	25	11	14	—	0.440	5	11	—	0.313	0	1	—	0	0	0	—

Notes

1. Although the first Rose Bowl Game was played in 1902, it has been continuously played since the 1916 game, and is recognized as the oldest bowl game by the NCAA. "—" indicates any season prior to 1916 when postseason games were not played.^[9]
2. A running total of the number of head coaches, with coaches who served separate tenures being counted only once. Interim head coaches are represented with "Int" and are not counted in the running total. "—" indicates the team played but either without a coach or no coach is on record. "X" indicates an interim year without play.
3. Overtime rules in college football were introduced in 1996, making ties impossible in the period since.^[10]
4. When computing the win–loss percentage, a tie counts as half a win and half a loss.^[11]
5. Statistics correct as of the end of the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season.
6. Auburn did not field a team for the 1943 season due to World War II.^[12]
7. Divisional champions have advanced to the SEC Championship Game since the institution of divisional play beginning in the 1992 season. Since that time, Auburn has competed as a member of the SEC West.^[13]
8. Terry Bowden finished the 1998 season with a record of one win and five losses prior to his resignation as head coach on October 23, 1998. Bill Oliver served as interim head coach for the final five games of the season, finishing with two wins and three losses.^[15][16]
9. On December 13, 2020, Malzahn was fired as head coach of Auburn at the conclusion of his eighth season. Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele served as interim head coach for Auburn's Citrus Bowl loss.^{[citation needed]}
10. Bryan Harsin was fired as Auburn's head coach on Monday, October 31, 2022. Running backs coach Cadillac Williams served as interim head coach for Auburn's remaining four regular season games.^{[citation needed]}

References

General

• "Auburn Coaching Records". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
• 2010 Auburn Football Media Guide. Auburn, Alabama: Auburn Media Relations Office. 2010. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.

Specific

1. 2010 Auburn Football Media Guide, p. 157
2. Parks, James. "Auburn hires Hugh Freeze as head football coach". College Football HQ. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
3. 2010 Auburn Football Media Guide, pp. 184–193
4. National Collegiate Athletic Association (2010). 2010 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). Indianapolis, Indiana: NCAA.org. pp. 68–77. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 16, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
5. John Heisman at the College Football Hall of Fame
6. Michael "Iron Mike" Donahue at the College Football Hall of Fame
7. Ralph "Shug" Jordan at the College Football Hall of Fame
8. Pat Dye at the College Football Hall of Fame
9. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) (2011). Bowl/All-Star Game Records (PDF). Indianapolis, Indiana: NCAA. pp. 5–10. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
10. Whiteside, Kelly (August 25, 2006). "Overtime system still excites coaches". USA Today. McLean, Virginia. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
11. Finder, Chuck (September 6, 1987). "Big plays help Paterno to 200th". The New York Times. New York City. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2009.
12. 2010 Auburn Football Media Guide, pp. 136
13. Harwell, Hoyt (November 30, 1990). "SEC sets division lineups". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 1C. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
14. 2006 Auburn Football Media Guide (PDF). Auburn, Alabama: Auburn Media Relations Office. 2006. p. 178. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 8, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
15. Hurt, Cecil (October 24, 1998). "Terry's record not only factor in resignation". The Tuscaloosa News. p. C1. Archived from the original on October 26, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
16. Halvatgis, Jenna (November 25, 1998). "Oliver backs out". The Gadsden Times. p. D1. Archived from the original on October 26, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
17. "All-time Eddie Robinson Award Winners". Football Writers Association of America. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
18. "George Munger Award – Past recipients". Maxwell Football Club. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
19. "Coach of the Year Award: Bear Bryant Awards". BryantAwards.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
20. "Walter Camp Football Foundation Awards". Walter Camp Football Foundation. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
21. "Tuberville named 2004 AFCA Coach of the Year". AuburnTigers.com. January 11, 2005. Archived from the original on February 17, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
22. "Tommy Tuberville named AP Coach of the Year". AuburnTigers.cstv.com. December 24, 2004. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
23. "Campbell, Tuberville earn AP Player, Coach Awards; Tigers honored with 15 AP selections". AuburnTigers.cstv.com. December 7, 2004. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
24. Low, Chris (December 8, 2010). "Chizik wins Home Depot coaching honor". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2010. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
25. "Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year: 2010 Winner: Gene Chizik, Auburn University". Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
26. Goldberg, Charles (January 24, 2011). "Auburn's Gene Chizik wins Bobby Bowden National Collegiate Coach of the Year Award". The Birmingham News. Archived from the original on January 28, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
27. Goldberg, Charles (December 6, 2010). "Auburn's Cam Newton, Nick Fairley, Gene Chizik win top SEC awards from the AP". The Birmingham News. Archived from the original on December 10, 2010. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
28. "Liberty Mutual Insurance Awards 2013 Coach of the Year Honors to Nations Top Football Leaders Who Excel | LMG". www.libertymutualgroup.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
29. "Paul". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
30. "AP Coach of the Year Award Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
31. "FWAA > Awards > Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year | All-Time Winners". www.sportswriters.net. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
32. "Home Depot Coach of the Year Award Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
33. "SEC Coach of the Year Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
34. "Sources: Auburn tabs Carnell 'Cadillac' Williams as interim head football coach". October 31, 2022. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
35. "Hugh Freeze named head football coach at Auburn". Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.