John Cohen Confident in Hugh Freeze’s Leadership of Auburn Football
Auburn athletic director John Cohen expressed strong support for head football coach Hugh Freeze during a Tuesday appearance on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 in Mobile. When asked if he was satisfied with the direction of the program under Freeze’s leadership, Cohen made it clear that he believes the foundation for long-term success is being laid.
“I believe we’re doing all the things necessary,” Cohen said confidently.
He explained that he evaluates the health of a football program based on two key factors: player commitment to the coaching staff and the strength of recruiting. In both areas, Cohen believes Auburn is thriving under Freeze.
“Does our locker room have buy-in with Hugh Freeze and our coaching staff? The answer is unequivocally yes,” Cohen stated. “Are we recruiting at a high level? The answer is yes. Hugh Freeze has come in and had back-to-back top-10 recruiting classes. He has held our locker room together.”
According to Cohen, the combination of strong internal support and elite-level recruiting provides a solid blueprint for future success.
“When those two things are happening in conjunction with each other, you’re going to have great success in the future, and I really believe that,” he said.
Though Freeze holds an 11-14 record over two seasons at Auburn, Cohen was quick to contextualize those numbers, noting that injuries and unforeseen circumstances played a role in last season’s results.
Specifically, he referenced the impact of an illness suffered by standout kicker Alex McPherson.
“We entered last season with arguably one of the top two or three field goal kickers in the Southeastern Conference,” Cohen explained. “He had a real unfortunate illness, not an injury, that really cost him. We missed three or four field goals that are the difference between winning five games and potentially eight.”
Cohen emphasized that the difference in perception between a 5–7 and 8–4 season can be narrow—sometimes hinging on just a few made field goals.
“If you go 8-4 because you’re hitting three average field goals, the whole world says that’s progress,” he noted.
Despite the challenges, Cohen reaffirmed that expectations remain high for Auburn football. The program, he said, carries a tradition of excellence that demands consistent growth and achievement.
“There is an expectation, a tradition, and an understanding when it comes to Auburn football,” he concluded.
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