Auburn’s Wise Decision to Hire Hugh Freeze and the Strategic Escape Hatch That Ensures Future Flexibility
When Auburn University hired Hugh Freeze as its head football coach, it marked a significant moment in the school’s athletic history. The decision was met with mixed reactions from fans, alumni, and analysts alike, some excited about Freeze’s potential and others questioning the move based on his past controversies. However, there was one element of the decision that stands out as a stroke of genius—a move that provides Auburn with a built-in “escape hatch,” a fail-safe if the Freeze era doesn’t live up to expectations. This element is a critical factor that ensures the university’s long-term flexibility while giving Freeze the opportunity to prove himself on the field.
To understand why Auburn’s decision to hire Freeze is potentially a wise one, it’s essential to first understand the background and context. Auburn football, historically one of the more competitive programs in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), had been in a state of turmoil. The firing of Gus Malzahn after the 2020 season marked the beginning of the Tigers’ search for a new coach. Malzahn had been a divisive figure among fans, and after several seasons of inconsistent results, Auburn’s administration decided that a change was necessary to take the program back to elite status.
This search process was not easy, as Auburn was looking for someone who could immediately improve the program while also bringing excitement and stability to a fanbase that had been left in limbo. After a lot of speculation and numerous interviews, the university hired Hugh Freeze in November 2022. Freeze had spent the previous years rebuilding Liberty University’s football program, taking them from relative obscurity to a national stage. His success with Liberty made him a candidate worth considering, especially given the fact that he had previously coached at Ole Miss, where he had shown flashes of brilliance but also made headlines for personal and ethical missteps.
Freeze’s past, particularly his resignation from Ole Miss in 2017 after a scandal involving personal conduct, made him a polarizing figure in the world of college football. His tenure at Ole Miss included recruiting violations and an NCAA investigation, which led to the university’s decision to part ways with him. These controversies made Freeze a risky hire for Auburn, with many wondering whether the program could afford another scandal. However, Auburn’s decision to hire him seemed to be driven by a belief in his ability to rebuild the program and a recognition that he was not the same coach or person he was years ago.
Despite Freeze’s potential to bring success to the Tigers, Auburn also made sure to protect itself in case the move didn’t pay off. This protection came in the form of a contract that included an easily accessible “escape hatch”—a clause that allows Auburn to part ways with Freeze with minimal financial repercussions. This move is not unique, as many high-profile coaching contracts include similar provisions. However, the strategic nature of Auburn’s decision stands out because of the way the university built in a pathway out if things go wrong.
The concept of an “escape hatch” in coaching contracts is nothing new. In the world of college athletics, where performance is paramount and expectations are sky-high, schools often include provisions in contracts that allow for a clean break if the relationship goes sour. These provisions protect the institution from being locked into a long-term commitment with a coach who is not living up to expectations. For Auburn, this was a prudent step, given the high stakes involved in college football and the pressure to perform in the SEC, one of the most competitive conferences in the country.
The presence of an easy exit clause in Freeze’s contract reflects an understanding of the volatility of college football coaching. While Auburn’s administration may have felt confident in Freeze’s ability to turn the program around, they also recognized that coaching hires come with risk. Programs like Auburn, which have a rich football tradition, can’t afford to stay stagnant for too long. If Freeze fails to deliver results quickly, the university needs the flexibility to make a change without being financially hampered by a long-term, costly contract.
Moreover, the decision to include this escape hatch shows a level of foresight and strategic thinking by Auburn’s athletic department. It signals to both the fans and the football world that the university is willing to give Freeze a fair chance to succeed, but is not afraid to make tough decisions if necessary. This approach puts Freeze on notice that there is an expectation for immediate improvement while also signaling to the larger football community that Auburn is not an institution that will tolerate mediocrity for long.
Another significant element of the hire is the timing. Freeze took over Auburn at a time when the program was in flux, and expectations were high. The SEC, especially, is a conference where elite coaching is a necessity, and Auburn was looking for someone who could recruit at a high level and create an identity on both sides of the ball. Freeze’s previous success at Liberty demonstrated his ability to develop talent and lead a team to consistent success, but it also showed that he was capable of maintaining discipline and professionalism in the face of adversity. Auburn’s hope was that Freeze could bring this same discipline and success to a program that had struggled to find consistency in recent years.
The fact that Freeze is now at a high-profile program like Auburn also gives him a unique opportunity to showcase his abilities on a bigger stage. Auburn’s football program is one of the most recognizable in the SEC, and the expectations for success are immediate. The university’s decision to hire Freeze gave him a platform to prove that he could build a program that could compete with the likes of Alabama, Georgia, and LSU. However, the stakes are high for Freeze, and the inclusion of an easy exit clause in his contract ensures that Auburn can make a change if necessary, preserving the university’s long-term vision.
In the world of college football, where the pressure to win is immense and fan expectations can shift quickly, having a safety net in the form of an escape hatch is crucial. It is not a sign of uncertainty, but rather a strategic safeguard that allows both the coach and the program to move forward with a clear understanding of the situation. If Freeze does succeed, Auburn will have a coach who can lead the program for years to come, and if he doesn’t, the university has a clear path to move on without being weighed down by an untenable contract.
The decision to hire Hugh Freeze, combined with the strategic inclusion of an escape hatch in his contract, illustrates the evolving nature of college football coaching hires. Schools like Auburn are now more calculated and careful in their approach to hiring coaches, understanding the risks involved and ensuring they have a way to adapt if things don’t go according to plan. This flexible approach helps Auburn avoid the pitfalls of becoming too entrenched in a coaching regime that is no longer working, while also providing Freeze the chance to rebuild his reputation and lead a major program.
Ultimately, Auburn’s decision to hire Hugh Freeze—and the strategic nature of his contract—offers the university the best of both worlds. The program has a coach with a proven track record, the potential to succeed in a high-pressure environment, and the flexibility to make a change if things go awry. This contract serves as a reminder that in the world of college football, where success can come and go in the blink of an eye, having an escape hatch is a wise move for any athletic department looking to protect its future while giving a new coach the opportunity to succeed.
