Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Chizik’s fast fall
Auburn fires coach two seasons after he took Tigers to BCS title.
AUBURN, Ala. — Gene Chizik led Auburn to a historic season but couldn’t keep the Tigers from descending to their lowest point in decades.
The rapid fall from a national championship to 3-9 and the SEC basement led to Chizik’s firing Sunday, the day after a humbling 49-0 loss to No. 2 Alabama that showed just how far the program has fallen.
The Tigers endured the worst slide within two years of winning a national championship of any team since the Associated Press poll started in 1936 and hadn’t lost this many games since going 0-10
in 1950. The decision came 17 months after Auburn gave Chizik a contract worth some $3.5 million annually through 2015 with a hefty buyout.
Auburn said the total buyout for Chizik and his assistant coaches is $11.09 million. Chizik’s buyout is expected to total $7.5 million and will be paid in monthly installments for the next four years.
Six assistants are under contract through June 30, 2013, while defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder, offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler and wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor have deals extending another year beyond that.
The buyouts could be reduced if the coaches find other jobs.
Auburn Athletic Director Jay Jacobs said he informed Chizik Sunday morning after President Jay Gogue accepted his recommendation to fire the coach.
The players were informed in a team meeting Sunday. Jacobs scheduled a news conference for later in the afternoon.
“I’m extremely disappointed with the way this season turned out and I apologize to the Auburn family and our team for what they have had to endure,” Chizik said in a statement released by Auburn. “In my 27 years of coaching, I have gained an understanding of the high expectations in this profession. When expectations are not met, I understand changes must be made.”
The Tigers went from 140 with a perfect SEC record with Cam Newton leading the offense in 2010 to 3-9 and 0-8, losing their final three league games by a combined 150-21. Auburn was blown out by Texas A&M (63-21) and Georgia (38-0) but the finale was even more painful for Tigers fans.
The Crimson Tide cruised to a six-touchdown halftime lead and the second- most lopsided Iron Bowl victory in history, behind only the Tide’s 55-0 victory in 1948.
“While we experienced a tremendous low in 2012, I will always be proud of the incredible highs that we achieved, including three bowl victories, an SEC championship and a national championship,” Chizik said.
He was 33-19 in four seasons and 15-17 in SEC games.
Auburn joins Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky as SEC teams with job openings showing the huge divide in a league with six teams ranked in the Top 11.
By Sunday afternoon, speculation regarding who is in line to succeed Chizik ranged from current Florida State Coach Jimbo Fisher to Arkansas State Coach Gus Malzahn, who spent three seasons as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator.
Last week, Malzahn passed on discussing his name being listed among potential candidates to high-profile openings at Auburn and Arkansas, where he served as offensive coordinator for former Coach Houston Nutt in 2006.
“I’m very happy at Arkansas State,” Malzahn told members of the the Little Rock Touchdown Club on Nov. 19 at the Embassy Suites hotel. “We’ve got big goals and big dreams, and I’m looking forward to seeing that through.”
Under the terms of his contract, Malzahn, who has a compensation package worth $850,000 annually, would have to pay a $2.4 million buyout if he leaves after his first season in Jonesboro.
Chizik’s decision to replace Malzahn with Loeffler, who came from Temple, was met with criticism from fans as the Tigers struggled in the transition, partly because of shaky quarterback play and ended the season with freshman Jonathan Wallace under center.
At an early afternoon meeting, Chizik informed players of his dismissal and received a warm applause.
“I think we did what he deserved and we gave him a standing ovation and clapped for him,” tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen said. “There’s so much love for coach Chizik on this team. Would we have loved to see him get another year, another opportunity? Yes, but at the same time we understand where Jay Jacobs is coming from. Three wins isn’t going to cut it in our league.”