Auburn Coordinator Updates - December 11th 11:00 am

Offensive Coordinator

I'm going to shake things up a bit and reference this, first. According to the newspaper in Monroe, Louisiana, Rhett Lashlee interviewed with ULM for their head coaching job this week. We knew he was being mentioned, but this is the first I've seen about him actually interviewing. It's worth noting that he is not one of the primary candidates, and one of the two top picks has dropped out. I would bet that means he's not going to get the call.

If he does, then what are Auburn's plans? Well, I say the same thing I've been saying: promote Dameyune Craig to full OC, let him coach the QBs, and hire a wide receiver coach. I think failing to do that would lead to us losing Craig in the very near future.

UPDATED: Georgia Southern head coach Willie Fritz is expected to take the Tulane job (DANG IT), so keep an eye out for the Eagles possibly looking to Rhett Lashlee. Word was he was not receptive to the Eagles when they came calling in 2013 (they did offer RB coach Tim Horton), but that was when they were moving up from FCS to FBS as a triple option team and no one knew what they could do. Two years later and it's a much more attractive job. Especially since the offense resembles Auburn's 2013 offense.

Defensive Coordinator

Of course, what you're really wanting to know about is the defensive coordinator job. Here are my thoughts on that:

Really, I just don't know. Last night people were reporting Kelly had turned us down. This morning a prominent Auburn writer said that's not the case. He's still choice #1. I think it's less likely he comes now than I did yesterday. Hopefully we get a final yay or nay on him very soon. It could come at any moment, honestly.

After him, it's still what I said yesterday. Bob Shoop is on the radar. Promoting Lance Thompson is an option. After that? It's anyone's guess. Still.

One thing I'm concerned with is that we're trying to just make a splash hire. Don't get me wrong, I want the best. However, there are plenty of people out there who would love to prove themselves and are excellent coordinators in their own right. Who cares what the media or other teams think if we know we've got someone who is a great coach and is hungry? This should be about hiring a great coach, not just a big name.

That's just me, though. I'm not calling the shots. To be fair to that, Kelly isn't exactly a "big name." His defense at Florida State was excellent this year, but how many of you knew who FSU's DC was (or that he was a former Auburn letterman) before this search? From the sounds of things, we're going to overpay because we need to lure someone in. It's sad that this is the perception, but it is. I still think Gus will get the offense rolling again next season and things will be fine.

We'll have information for you as soon as possible. I have no idea when that will be, though.