The 2024 Auburn Tigers coaching staff will have a different look. This is especially the case on the offensive side of the ball. After the embarrassing loss to Maryland in the Music City Bowl, offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery was informed he would not be retained. Then weeks later fan favorite Carnell “Cadillac” Williams left the coaching staff in news that surprised many. Head coach Hugh Freeze was tasked to find a new offensive coordinator, quarterback coach, and running back coach.
2024 Auburn Offensive Coaching Staff
New Playcaller
A big surprise when Freeze became the head coach after the 2022 season was when he decided he would not call the plays. This was a first in his coaching career. He had been the play caller at both Ole Miss and Liberty. That is where Montgomery came in. The former Tulsa head coach had a good track record at Houston and Baylor as offensive coordinator. At those stops he coached the likes of Case Keenum, Robert Griffin III, and Bryce Petty. Still, it was a head-scratcher that Freeze would not call the plays.
The Tigers did struggle mightily on offense in 2023, with the passing game being ineffective at times. Auburn ranked tenth in the SEC in yards per game overall (351.2) and last with 162.2 passing yards per game. Quarterback Payton Thorne did not throw for over 100 yards in five of the Tigers’ games. It did appear after games that Freeze was not happy with Montgomery and his game plans. The two just never seemed to be on the same page. After relieving Montgomery, it was reported by Chris Low of ESPN that Freeze would take over playcalling.
New Coaches
With Freeze taking over the playcalling, the question then was who would be the offensive coordinator. That question was answered on January 17th when it was announced Auburn had hired Derrick Nix away from Ole Miss. Nix spent the last 16 seasons at Ole Miss with 12 as running backs coach and the last four seasons as wide receivers coach. With his time at Ole Miss, Nix has familiarity with Freeze working on his staff in Oxford. He will also serve as the running backs coach. Auburn does return a good group of running backs featuring a returning Jarquez Hunter, Brian Battie, Jeremiah Cobb, and Damari Alston.
The new quarterbacks coach is a promotion from within the program. Long-time coach Kent Austin will go from an analyst to an on-the-field role. Austin served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Liberty under Freeze from 2019-22. Along with Freeze, Austin helped in the development of Malik Willis. The combo will now be tasked with improving the quarterbacks featuring Thorne, Holden Geriner, Hank Brown, and incoming freshman Walker White. Austin spent six seasons as a head coach in the CFL with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2007) and the Hamilton Tiger-cats (2013-17). He went 48-50 over those seasons and was 1-2 in the Grey Cup. The championship season occurred in 2007.
Returning Coaches
Tight-end coach Ben Aigamaua, offensive line coach Jake Thornton, and wide receiver coach Marcus Davis return for the 2024 season. There is no question that Davis has had a great off-season helping land one of the best wide receiver recruiting classes in recent years. That group features five-start commits Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson, plus four-stars Bryce Cain and Malcolm Simmons. That group could get bolstered if the Tigers were able to land Saraland’s Ryan Williams after he reopened his recruitment due to the retirement of Nick Saban.
