Auburn signed Hugh Freeze in November to put the Tigers back in the national soccer championship conversation.
After a year in which Auburn went 5-7, freeze arrived in The Plains after four years at the helm of Liberty University.
Head football coach Hugh Freeze of the Auburn Tigers during their game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neville Arena on February 1, 2023, in Auburn, Alabama. (Michael Chang/Getty Images)
And while his hiring was met with some backlash due to his time as head coach at Ole Miss, he has the support of one of Auburn’s best-known alumni.
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charles barkley He said he’s excited for Freeze’s first season at Auburn as he waits for the fan base to embrace it.
«Well, I was really disappointed in the way you faithful auburn treaty trainer [Bryan] Harsin,» Barkley said at the Regions Tradition pro-am golf tournament in Birmingham on Wednesday, according to the Montgomery Advertiser. «Very disappointed. [in] the way we treat Coach Harsin. But now we have Coach Freeze. They have to support him 100%.
«I spoke to him a couple of times. He knows I’m always on his speed dial if he ever needs anything, and I’m excited. I think under the circumstances, he made a good recruit. I think he did well on the transfer portal. Now, hey, the season is going to start, and I’m excited.»
Former Auburn Tigers basketball player Charles Barkley after their game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neville Arena on March 4, 2023, in Auburn, Alabama. (Michael Chang/Getty Images)
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Freeze returned to the SEC five years after stepping down as head coach of old miss after school officials discovered a «pattern of personal misconduct,» which began with a call to a number used by an escort service from a university-issued cell phone. That issue came after the NCAA launched an investigation into rule violations the football program committed under Freeze.
The NCAA found 21 violations of academic, reinforcement and recruiting misconduct, most of which occurred under Freeze’s supervision. Ole Miss received a two-year postseason ban and two-year recruiting restrictions.
And though his time at Ole Miss ended badly, Freeze defeated Nick Saban and Alabama twice, beating the Crimson Tide in 2014 and 2015.
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Auburn Tigers head football coach Hugh Freeze during the second half of their game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Neville Arena on January 7, 2023, in Auburn, Alabama. (Michael Chang/Getty Images)
«I don’t care about that, to be honest with you,» Barkley said. «It just matters what we do at Auburn. Coach Saban is the greatest college football coach of all time. I have a lot of admiration and respect for him, but we just need to come together at Auburn. You never worry about other people.»
«Coach Saban is the best ever, but I like our coach… I think we are going to have a very good season.»
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.