The Hugh Freeze era at Auburn came to an unceremonious end on Sunday. After a dismal 10-3 home loss to Kentucky, the university decided to end Hugh Freeze’s tenure. It was a fitting finale for a tenure that never quite took off. Freeze finished 15-19 overall and an abysmal 6-16 in SEC play, failing to score more than 24 points in 17 of his 22 conference games. 

The 56-year-old coach arrived on the Plains in late 2022 with a $6.5 million annual salary and big expectations. But he couldn’t replicate the success he’d found at Ole Miss and Liberty. Now Auburn owes him $15.8 million. 

That financial cushion gives him options most fired coaches don’t have, and it raises an interesting question: what’s next for Hugh Freeze?

UAB

The most logical fit for Freeze might be right down the road in Birmingham. Trent Dilfer, a former NFL quarterback, was fired by UAB on October 12, 2025, following his poor performance in two-plus seasons, which included a disastrous 2-4 start this year. The Blazers are actively searching for someone who can restore the program to the respectability it enjoyed under Bill Clark, who won 43 games from 2017 to 2021 before health issues forced him to step away. 

Freeze knows the Alabama recruiting landscape inside and out, and UAB represents a low-pressure environment where he could rebuild his reputation without the suffocating expectations of an SEC job. The Blazers need someone with credibility and connections, and Hugh Freeze, despite his Auburn failures, still has both. 

UAB’s athletic department is looking for an “accomplished and visionary leader.” And while Hugh Freeze’s recent track record is rocky, his 39-25 mark at Ole Miss and that magical 10-1 season at Liberty in 2020 show he knows how to build programs.

Arkansas

Arkansas fired Sam Pittman on September 28, 2025, after the Razorbacks stumbled to a 2-3 start that included a humiliating 56-13 home loss to Notre Dame. Bobby Petrino is serving as interim coach, but the Hogs are conducting a national search for their next leader. Some coaching insiders believe Arkansas might actually be a better SEC fit for Hugh Freeze than Auburn ever was. 

Arkansas doesn’t carry the same expectations as Auburn. But it’s still a Power Four job with decent resources and a fan base hungry for relevance. Freeze went 1-0 against Arkansas while at Liberty in 2022. He understands what it takes to compete in the SEC West, even if his Auburn tenure didn’t show it. 

The Razorbacks need someone who can aggressively recruit the state of Arkansas while also attracting talent from Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Athletic director Hunter Yurachek is looking for a coach who can make Arkansas “highly competitive within the Southeastern Conference.” And while Freeze’s 6-16 SEC record at Auburn is alarming, his success at Ole Miss proves he can win big games when things click.

Western Kentucky

This one’s a bit of a sleeper, but it makes sense if you squint. Western Kentucky currently has Tyson Helton under contract through 2028 after he signed a four-year extension in December 2024. Helton’s been solid, compiling a 48-32 record since taking over in 2019 and leading the Hilltoppers to bowl games in every season except the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. 

However, coaching is a fluid business, and Helton is drawing interest from larger programs. A couple of good seasons could create an opening as early as 2026. Freeze actually has a history with Western Kentucky. He served as the offensive coordinator under Jeff Brohm in 2014 and 2015, helping guide the Hilltoppers to a 12-2 record and a Conference USA championship in 2015. 

That 2015 team finished ranked No. 24 nationally with record-breaking quarterback Brandon Doughty. And it was courtesy of the offensive system that Freeze installed. If Western Kentucky were to part ways with Helton down the road, Freeze would be a natural fit. He knows the program, understands what it takes to win at that level, and wouldn’t face the microscope that comes with coaching in the SEC.

Bonus

Another interesting scenario is that Freeze might not take another job at all. Remember, his buyout has no offset language. So, Auburn pays him $408,974 per month, roughly $4.9 million per year, through January 2029, whether he coaches or not. That’s real money, and it gives him the luxury of being selective.

More importantly, Freeze has been dealing with prostate cancer since being diagnosed in February 2025. Doctors have described it as “slow aggressive,” and while it’s treatable, Freeze told reporters in August that his wife has him taking “all sorts of natural products” in hopes of potentially curing it without surgery. He was planning to reassess his treatment options in January 2026, and initially faced a decision between surgery in June or waiting until after the season. Now that he’s been fired, Freeze has no season to worry about. He could take a short- or medium-term sabbatical, focus on his declining health, spend time with his family, and maybe play some golf without the crushing weight of trying to fix a broken Auburn offense. 

The man just endured three years of relentless criticism. His final game was a 10-3 slog against Kentucky that featured seven combined sacks and zero touchdowns. That’s enough to drain anyone’s spirit, let alone someone battling cancer. 

Taking a year or two off to recharge, get healthy, and regain his passion for the game might be the smartest move Freeze could make. He’s 56 years old with $15.8 million coming his way. There’s no shame in stepping away, especially when your health demands it.