After less than two turbulent seasons, Auburn fired football coach Bryan Harsin on Monday.
The decision came just before the school named a new athletic director in John Cohen, the former Mississippi State AD.
Harsin’s firing also came less than 48 hours after the Tigers lost to Arkansas at home by two touchdowns.
The team dropped to 3-5 and is in danger of missing out on a bowl game for the first time since 2012.
Running backs coach Carnell “Cadillac” Williams will serve as Auburn’s interim coach, sources told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. He’s in his fourth season at his alma mater, where he was an All-America selection at running back and set team records for carries (741) and rushing touchdowns (45). Williams was selected at No. 5 overall by Tampa Bay in the 2005 NFL draft, and played seven NFL seasons, rushing for 4,047 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Harsin’s tenure at Auburn ends with a 9-12 record.
“Auburn University has decided to make a change in the leadership of the Auburn University football program,” the school said in a statement. “President [Christopher] Roberts made the decision after a thorough review and evaluation of all aspects of the football program. Auburn will begin an immediate search for a coach that will return the Auburn program to a place where it is consistently competing at the highest levels and representing the winning tradition that is Auburn football.”
Per terms of his contract, Harsin will be owed $15.5 million in buyout money with 50% due within 30 days and the remaining half in four installments.
Two years ago, the school decided to pay a $21.7 million buyout to fire Gus Malzahn, who had gone 68-34 in eight seasons.
Auburn was coming off a 6-7 season when Harsin’s status was thrown into limbo this February after the university launched an investigation into his handling of the program.
The inquiry came after a number of players and coaches left during the offseason.
Auburn ultimately cleared Harsin, who later called it a “personal attack” that “didn’t work.”
Auburn opened the season with two straight wins, over Mercer and San Jose State, but has gone 1-5 since.
Harsin, 45, came to Auburn on a six-year, $31.5 million deal after seven seasons as head coach at Boise State.
His record as a head coach, including one season at Arkansas State, is 85-36.