Hugh Freeze, the head coach of Auburn, was forced to make some personnel changes on the defensive side of the ball following the departure of Ron Roberts, who left Auburn to take a position as defensive coordinator in 2023, and the resignation of defensive backs coach Zac Etheridge, who accepted a similar position at Houston.
Former Texas A&M defensive coordinator and Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin was officially brought aboard Freeze’s staff at Auburn on Jan. 31, joining Charles Kelly as defensive coordinator.
Durkin joins Auburn’s staff after spending the last two seasons in College Station, where he served as Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Prior to his time with Aggies, Durkin had also served assistant coaching stints at Ole Miss, Michigan and Florida
On January 31, D.J. Durkin, a former head coach of Maryland and defensive coordinator for Texas A&M, formally joined Freeze’s Auburn staff, replacing Charles Kelly in the defensive coordinator role.
After working as Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the previous two seasons at College Station, Durkin has joined Auburn’s staff. Durkin had previously worked as an assistant coach at Ole Miss, Michigan, and Florida before joining the Aggies.With Durkin joining Auburn’s staff, the Tigers’ defensive coordinator will have head coaching experience, having led the Maryland football programme for two seasons in 2016 and 2017.
