With likely losses against Georgia and Alabama looming, Auburn AD Allen Greene attempted to quell the speculation about Gus Malzahn's future before it could take on a life of its own by stating definitively that Malzahn will be back in 2019.
“He’ll be the coach next year and I’m confident — he’s already proven we can get through adversity,” Greene said earlier this month. “Every team has it and I’m looking forward to working with him for a long time.”
Those losses have now come and gone -- the Tigers fell to Georgia 27-10 on Nov. 10 and 52-21 to Alabama on Saturday. Auburn completed a regular season that began in the AP top 10 with a 7-5 mark.
With the regular season over, Josh Moon of the Montgomery (Ala.) Alabama Reporter reported Monday that a faction of AU power-brokers have gathered support to oust Malzahn, to the point where a search for his replacement is already underway.
Malzahn signed a 7-year, $49 million contract after leading Auburn to wins over Georgia and Alabama en route to an SEC West championship in 2017. The cost to buy the sixth-year Auburn coach out of his contract at this point is a reported $32 million with $16 million of that due nearly immediately should they make this decision. For what it is worth, FootballScoop was told that people representing Auburn met with Bob Stoops a few weeks back.... As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.
Update> Bob Stoops says he didn't speak with Auburn.