🚨 Auburn AD Isn’t Sweating Hugh Freeze’s Struggles — Here’s Why He’s Still All-In
So Auburn football hasn’t exactly been lighting it up lately — and folks are starting to notice. The 2026 recruiting class? Yeah… it’s not great right now. But if you think head coach Hugh Freeze is on thin ice, think again.
Athletic Director John Cohen is standing tall behind his guy.
And he’s not whispering it — he’s shouting it.
In a sit-down with AL.com at SEC Media Days, Cohen couldn’t say enough good things about Freeze’s grind on the recruiting trail. In fact, he was downright impressed. “I rode up here with Hugh,” he said. “In two hours, he took seven recruiting calls. Some of those kids were calling him!”
According to Cohen, Freeze isn’t the kind of coach who just hands recruiting off to someone else. Nope — he’s in the thick of it. Restaurant, family dinner, golf course — if a recruit calls, Freeze picks up. Cohen even told a story about Hugh taking a recruiting call mid-round while playing golf.
And before you roll your eyes — Cohen’s not mad about the golf hobby.
“Some folks drink, some fish, some golf. That’s just his thing,” Cohen said. “But when it comes down to it, the guy works. He builds real relationships with these recruits — and that’s why kids still want to come to Auburn.”
Now, you might be thinking: “Cool story, but Auburn’s still losing.” Freeze is 11–14 over two seasons, after all. But Cohen’s not hitting the panic button — far from it.
He brought up basketball coach Bruce Pearl, who started 26–40 in his first two seasons. Everyone wanted to write him off too — until he led Auburn to two Final Fours.
Cohen’s message? Building something legit takes time. He’s in this for the long haul.
But what about the elephant in the room — that brutal 2026 recruiting class ranking?
Cohen says there’s a method to the madness. Auburn’s playing the long game with its NIL and recruiting strategy. While other schools are throwing cash around and loading up early, Auburn’s taking a more deliberate approach. According to Cohen, they’re holding off on written offers until August 1 — when it actually matters.
Translation: They’re not panicking. They’re playing it smart.
“We believe the recruiting market is a little inflated right now,” Cohen said. “We’re being patient and careful.”
That includes how they spend their money. Cohen says Auburn’s breaking their football funds into three buckets:
1. Take care of the players already on campus (a.k.a. don’t lose your stars to the portal).
2. Be ready to pounce in the transfer market.
3. Recruit high schoolers — but don’t over-promise if you can’t deliver.
Bottom line: If a current player has a breakout season, Auburn wants the cash ready to keep them — even if it means holding back a bit with high school prospects.
It’s risky, but Cohen believes in it. More importantly, he believes in Freeze.
“This is a totally new era,” Cohen said. “And we’re trying to do things the right way. No fake promises to 18-year-olds that we can’t keep. That’s not who we are.”
So yeah, Auburn’s not following the crowd. They’re carving their own path — and Cohen is clearly betting on Hugh Freeze to lead the way.
Critics might keep chirping, but don’t expect any big coaching changes soon. This is a Freeze-and-Cohen production now — and they’re not done yet.
🎙️ “Yeah, We’re Struggling — But Hugh Freeze Still Has My Full Trust, Says Auburn AD”
