Is Hugh Freeze right for Auburn? The expectations and concerns with the hire
Auburn athletic director John Cohen will sign the contract for new football coach Hugh Freeze with both eyes open.
If anyone knows the upside and the risk involved in hiring the former Ole Miss coach, it’s the former Mississippi State athletic director. They didn’t just share a state for five years, they shared a conference. Cohen would have attended AD-level meetings and heard all about why Freeze left Oxford under a dark cloud in the summer of 2017. (At Tuesday’s introductory press conference, Cohen expressed confidence in both Freeze and the thoroughness of Auburn’s vetting procedures but declined to take any questions that would have shed more light on that process.)
Freeze was once the toast of Ole Miss. He tore it up on the recruiting trail and had a high-flying offense that pushed the tempo and took shots downfield. He brought the Rebels to their first Sugar Bowl in 45 years. He beat Alabama and Nick Saban twice.
But the fall from grace was swift and scandalous. There were NCAA recruiting violations, which led to a bowl ban and scholarship reductions, and there were phone calls to an escort service, which ultimately led to Freeze resigning. Had he not resigned, his former athletic director said, he would have fired him. (After Freeze left Ole Miss, USA Today published a story in which three women, who were students at Briarcrest Christian when Freeze was a high school football coach in the late 1990s and early 2000s, said Freeze made them uncomfortable with inappropriate behavior.)
Freeze didn’t coach in 2017 or 2018. And because of the scandals, when he did return, it was at Liberty.
In Lynchburg, Virginia, he started over. And with every win and bowl appearance, it felt like he was inching closer to a return to big-time college football.
In four seasons at Liberty, Freeze went 34-15. But this past summer, a former Liberty student who sued the university for allegedly mishandling sexual assault cases accused Freeze of sending her direct messages on Twitter in reaction to her comments. In one message, Freeze allegedly said Liberty athletic director Ian McCaw — who resigned as Baylor AD in the wake of a campus-wide sexual assault investigation — was a “Jesus-like leader.”
Meanwhile, Auburn was floundering. It had gone outside the box by hiring former Boise State coach Bryan Harsin in Dec. 2020 but a 6-7 first season ended with an internal investigation into Harsin’s handling of the program. Then, after going 3-5 to start this season, Harsin was fired.
Desperate for a proven winner in the SEC — and someone who might be able to beat archrival Alabama — Cohen eventually zeroed in on Freeze.
Why did Auburn hire Freeze?
Andrea Adelson: Because it could not get Lane Kiffin? This sure does feel like a reach. Freeze’s past, quite frankly, should be disqualifying from him ever landing another Power 5 job. Especially when Auburn had a highly qualified candidate standing on its sideline — beloved alum Cadillac Williams, who did an incredible job as interim coach after Harsin was fired. He drew widespread praise for not only the way he handled the situation but for the passion with which his team played. There are qualified Black head coaches across the country who get passed over every single year for coaches like Freeze. This hire is a particular slap in the face to one of Auburn’s own, who has given everything for this program.
But Freeze is a big name with an SEC past who beat Nick Saban twice when he was Ole Miss’ coach, and took the Rebels to two New Year’s Six games. And he can develop quarterbacks. But it’s fair to question whether that should have been enough for him to get the job.
Alex Scarborough: The last few months, starting with hiring athletic director John Cohen from Mississippi State, have felt like a giant course correction for Auburn. Bringing in the former Ole Miss coach — after trying to hire the current Ole Miss coach — is really on the nose. And it’s predictable. Which is not to say it’s the wrong move. If Freeze could contend in the SEC and go 2-3 against Saban and Alabama at Ole Miss, what’s to say he can’t repeat that success at Auburn? It’s a better recruiting territory given the access to Georgia and Florida, and there are unlimited resources — just look at how much money they’re willing to burn on buyouts. (In the past two years, the Tigers have paid more than $37 million to fired coaches Harsin and Gus Malzahn.) The school recently built a new football facility, and it is not afraid to fund NIL ventures.
What should be Auburn’s biggest concerns moving forward?
Adelson: Here’s the thing: A quick Google search clearly shows why this hire comes with huge risks. As outlined above, Freeze has already gotten one SEC school into major NCAA trouble, leading to postseason bans and vacated wins. He was ousted at Ole Miss in part for using burner phones to call escorts, and while at Liberty is alleged to have been direct messaging a woman suing the school over sexual assault claims. But this hire is a win-at-all-costs, go-for-broke situation, and Auburn will deal with the consequences later.
Scarborough: Ask his former athletic director and president at Ole Miss. They stood up and defended Freeze on multiple occasions only to end up embarrassed. Cohen will have to explain why he felt comfortable that Freeze has learned his lessons and is trustworthy. And even then, only time will tell. But as far as the product on the field, let’s not forget that Freeze hasn’t coached in the SEC in six years. That’s an eternity. The last three SEC games Freeze coached were against Kevin Sumlin, Derek Mason and Dan Mullen. So, yeah, a lot has changed. Freeze has to show his offense has evolved and that he can navigate the complexities of roster management in the era of NIL. Doing it at Liberty is great, but it’s not nearly the same as Auburn.
How does Freeze get Auburn back in SEC contention?
Adam Rittenberg: He accomplished the first step by keeping Cadillac Williams on staff. He also needs other assistants who know the SEC recruiting landscape and can attract transfers. Auburn ultimately must become a quarterback destination under Freeze. Since 2018, Alabama leads the nation in total QBR, while Georgia is No. 4. Auburn ranks 55th. Freeze has to improve that position through recruiting and the portal.
Chris Low: Right at the top is finding, signing and developing a quarterback. Freeze has won with different styles of quarterbacks, which should make playing in his system attractive for a lot of quarterbacks out there. In the end, offensive systems don’t win games (or championships) in the SEC. Players do. And make no mistake: Freeze’s mission at Auburn is to win titles. The Tigers are one of six schools nationally over the last 12 years to have won a national title and played in another national title game during that span. The way you do that is by signing and developing great players, especially from the state of Georgia. When Auburn has been really good, the Tigers have always had great players from Georgia. And that’s harder than ever now with Kirby Smart in Athens.
Mark Schlabach: I think the Auburn roster needs a complete overhaul. Harsin’s recruiting abilities weren’t up to SEC standards, and the Tigers lost too many players to the transfer portal. And then Freeze will need to win over the Auburn power brokers, just like basketball coach Bruce Pearl was able to do. Freeze has to unite Auburn fans and boosters and get everyone on the same page. For too long, Auburn’s biggest opponent has been itself because of so much dysfunction behind closed doors.
What does this mean for the Alabama-Auburn rivalry?
Rittenberg: Freeze knows the blueprint for beating Bama, and it’s all about recruiting and NIL, two areas where Auburn should thrive under his leadership. Auburn needs schematic and talent upgrades on offense to beat an Alabama team that has pivoted more toward quarterback and wide receiver play. Freeze has a strong track record on offense, especially at wide receiver, but his ability to attract and develop elite SEC quarterbacks to match Alabama’s will be worth watching.
Low: The Iron Bowl is always going to be one of the best rivalries in college football, but a new face is only going to spice it up. There was also a time that Saban and Freeze nearly ended up together. After Freeze resigned at Ole Miss, Saban was interested in bringing Freeze on as an analyst or even an offensive coordinator, but sources say SEC commissioner Greg Sankey was against the idea of Freeze being back in the league while Ole Miss was still on probation.
Schlabach: The Tide might be as vulnerable as they’ve ever been under Saban. Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young is leaving for the NFL, along with linebacker Will Anderson Jr., the best player on defense. The Tide don’t seem to have a bruising running back like they’ve had in the past, and their young receivers haven’t panned out. Alabama has been undisciplined and plagued by turnovers and penalties. If Freeze and his staff can recruit well and pluck a few difference makers out of the transfer portal, they might be competitive with Alabama sooner than people believed.
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Alden Gonzalez
Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington will remain on medical leave for the rest of the season, the team announced Friday.
Bench coach Ray Montgomery will manage the team for what remains of 2025. Ryan Goins will serve as his bench coach going forward.
Washington, the oldest manager in the major leagues at 73, was placed on leave last Friday because of an undisclosed medical issue. He experienced shortness of breath and appeared fatigued toward the end of a four-game series at the New York Yankees that ended on June 19. Washington flew back to Southern California, underwent a series of tests and was placed on medical leave.
A longtime third-base coach and well-regarded infield instructor, Washington served as the Texas Rangers‘ manager from 2007 to 2014.
He was in his second year managing the Angels.
The Angels were 40-40 entering Friday night’s game against the visiting Washington Nationals, winning three straight under Montgomery and seven of 10 overall. Los Angeles has played better than most expected from a team with major league-worst streaks of nine straight losing seasons and 10 straight non-playoff seasons.
The 55-year-old Montgomery is getting his first job as a major league manager. The native of New York’s Westchester County is a former Houston Astros outfielder who served as the scouting director for Arizona and Milwaukee before joining the Angels as their director of player personnel for the 2020 season.
Montgomery became Los Angeles’ bench coach in 2021 after general manager Perry Minasian took over the front office, and he stayed with the Angels while Joe Maddon, Phil Nevin and Washington managed the club.
Goins played eight seasons in the major leagues before Washington hired him as the Angels’ infield coach before the 2024 season.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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Rachel Doerrie
The 2025 NHL draft is taking place on Friday (Round 1) and Saturday (Rounds 2-7) at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
This page will be your home for the entire event, as each pick is added below, including scouting notes and team fit analysis for the first-rounders.
More: Prospect rankings
Draft week buzz
Late-round gems
Needs for all 32 teams
Round 1
Team: Erie (OHL)
DOB: 09/05/2007 | Ht: 6-1.75 | Wt: 183 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 17 | G: 7 | A: 15 | P: 22
Scouting notes: Schaefer is projected to become a true No. 1 cornerstone for years to come. A dynamic presence at both ends of the ice, he skates with ease and elite mobility to shut down opponents in all situations, while creating offense with quality transition play.
Executives and scouts view him as a future elite NHL defenseman and a foundational piece for a championship-caliber roster. Schaefer’s ability to control play from the blue line, play tough matchups, and run a power play — combined with the belief in his character and leadership — result in many believing that Schaefer has the tools to become a top-10 defender in the league, while wearing a letter as part of a team’s leadership group.
How he fits: After trading Noah Dobson earlier in the day, the Islanders drafted their franchise cornerstone defender. Schaefer does everything well, and is a dynamic skater with elite mobility. He will take on the toughest matchups, help the Islanders exit the zone with smooth passes and carry outs, and drive offense from the back end. He’s a future No. 1 defenseman who will log 25-28 minutes per night and run the power play.
Schaefer’s ability to dictate play from the back end is franchise-changing for the Isles. Schaefer will attend development camp next week, and it is highly likely he starts the season in the NHL lineup. Don’t be surprised if Schaefer is running the power play and logging major minutes by November.
A very emotional Schaefer hugged his family and pulled on the Isles jersey for the first time, with a cancer patch. Through tears, he shared his excitement and emotion, and gained the hearts of a lot more than just Isles fans.
Team: Saginaw (OHL)
DOB: 02/16/2007 | Ht: 6-0.75 | Wt: 184 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 65 | G: 62 | A: 72 | P: 134
Scouting notes: Granted exceptional status in the OHL in 2022, Misa delivered one of the most remarkable goal-scoring seasons in recent memory in 2024-25, netting 62 goals in just 65 games. He projects to be a top-line forward capable of consistently exceeding 90 points per season in the NHL.
Misa’s offensive instincts are elite. He processes the game at a high level and executes at top speed. Scouts believe he is NHL-ready and has the potential to become an elite top-line center. Away from the puck, Misa excels at finding soft areas in coverage and has a flair for delivering in clutch moments. His combination of high-end playmaking and goal-scoring ability makes him a constant dual threat in the offensive zone.
How he fits: The Sharks kept everyone guessing until the very last moment, but ultimately selected Misa. He is a special talent and adds a second elite two-way center to the organization. He projects as a first-line star, with dual-threat playmaking and scoring ability — notching 62 goals in 65 OHL games.
If Misa’s two-way game continues to improve, there’s a real chance the Sharks will have two centers capable of dominating play in all three zones with 2024 No. 1 pick Macklin Celebrini already in place. On the power play, Misa can facilitate, be a shooting threat and carry the puck on entries. Because of his dual-threat capabilities, he can play the bumper, the flank or down low. With this selection, the Sharks have the potential to feature the best one-two punch down the middle for years to come.
Team: Djurgarden (SWEDEN-2)
DOB: 05/07/2007 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 198 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 29 | G: 11 | A: 14 | P: 25
Scouting notes: Frondell is a versatile two-way forward that plays both center and right wing. His flexibility is attractive to teams, although many believe he is most likely to reach his potential as a winger in the NHL.
Frondell is coming off one of the most productive seasons by an under-18 player in Allsvenskan history, giving him a confident projection as a first-line NHL forward. He’s a cerebral player, who picks apart defenders in one-on-one situations and defensive coverage in offensive zone play. The details of Frondell’s game are translatable, including excellent forechecking ability, willingness to attack the middle of the ice and high-end anticipation on both sides of the puck.
He has shown play-driving capabilities against men in the Allsvenskan, which has translated to the NHL for other prospects in the past. He’s projected to produce between 75-85 points per season. His style of play translates well and has executives excited about his ability to step in the league in the next 18 months.
How he fits: It was no secret that Chicago wanted to add some size up front, and Frondell is exactly that. He can play center or the wing, and brings an excellent two-way game. He confidently projects as a first-line forward that beats defenders one-on-one, drives play on both sides of the puck, and should score nearly a point per game.
He plays on the inside of the ice and has the ability to score 30-plus goals in the NHL because of his excellent shot. Frondell is a year away from playing in the NHL, and probably two or three from hitting his potential as a top-line forward who drives play. Chicago can play him behind Connor Bedard up the middle, or on Bedard’s line to capitalize on the versatility he brings.
Team: Moncton (QMJHL)
DOB: 04/11/2007 | Ht: 6-1.5 | Wt: 178 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 56 | G: 35 | A: 49 | P: 84
Scouting notes: Described as a “coach’s dream” because of his ability to take an offensive or checking assignment and execute consistently. He makes smart, simple plays, provides a physical presence on the forecheck and generally agitates and makes life difficult on defenders.
He projects to be a quality second-line center with a decent chance of becoming a first-line player. He’s cerebral, with quick hands and playmaking ability. He’s not flashy, but he’s consistently effective and makes intelligent plays with the puck. As one scouting director described “he’s the type of player you win with.” Some have quietly compared him to Patrice Bergeron and Jonathan Toews, who are lofty comparisons, to say the very least.
How he fits: The Mammoth kept everyone guessing, would they trade or keep the pick. Ultimately, they kept the pick and selected Desnoyers. He can play in any situation as one of the best two-way players available. He’s a serial winner who plays whatever style of game required to win. If he needs to produce offense, he does. If he needs to shut down the opponent’s best, he does that too.
Utah needed some size and two-way capability to mesh with Logan Cooley, Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther, and Caleb Desnoyers is exactly that. He’ll be NHL-ready a lot sooner than people think because his professional details are top-notch. He projects as a play-driving, two-way, second line center that the Mammoth will turn to in key situations. As noted above, there’s a lot of Jonathan Toews in Desnoyers’ game, which will excite Mammoth fans, management and coaches.
Team: Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
DOB: 03/16/2007 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 178 | Shot: R
2024-25 stats: GP: 57 | G: 33 | A: 39 | P: 72
Scouting notes: A Swiss Army knife type of player who will be most effective on the wing because of his strong wall play, Martin projects as a middle-six forward capable of scoring 20 goals routinely, with upside as a second-line forward.
He’s a wrecking ball that will bring value in all three zones, on and off the puck. Martin has scouts raving about him after an excellent performance at the IIHF under-18 championship, with many opining that he could go very early in the first round. He’s a workhorse without an off switch, who brings a blend of physicality and hard skill. He’s a nightmare to contain with his brute strength, and forces defenders into precarious positions with good speed and willingness to make “winning” plays.
Several teams mentioned how impressive Martin was during interviews at the combine. Combine an attractive personality with the hard-nosed style, and it forms a rare combination that is valuable to many scouts who believe he’s the type of player teams need to win in the playoffs. Surely, his mention of Conn Smythe winner Sam Bennett as a role model grabbed attention.
6. Philadelphia Flyers
7. Boston Bruins
8. Seattle Kraken
9. Buffalo Sabres
10. Anaheim Ducks
11. Pittsburgh Penguins
12. Pittsburgh Penguins (from NYR)
13. Detroit Red Wings
14. Columbus Blue Jackets
15. Vancouver Canucks
16. New York Islanders (from CGY via MTL)
17. New York Islanders (from MTL)
18. Calgary Flames (from NJ)
19. St. Louis Blues
20. Columbus Blue Jackets (from MIN)
21. Ottawa Senators
22. Philadelphia Flyers (from COL)
23. Nashville Predators (from TB)
24. Los Angeles Kings
25. Chicago Blackhawks (from TOR)
26. Nashville Predators (from VGK via SJ)
27. Washington Capitals
28. Winnipeg Jets
29. Carolina Hurricanes
30. San Jose Sharks (from DAL)
31. Philadelphia Flyers (from EDM)
32. Calgary Flames (from FLA)
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