Auburn Football: The Defensive Coordinator Shortlist for the Tigers

The 7-5 (4-4 SEC) No. 25 Auburn Tigers will be heading into bowl practice Monday, Dec. 12 with head coach Gene Chizik heading up the Auburn defense for the first time since 2004. Chizik appears to be in no hurry to find a replacement for the recently departed Ted Roof, but a hire has to come at some point.

There are some leading names that have been at the forefront of discussion since the announcement of Roof’s departure. There appear to be a handful of candidates with two leading candidates. This could be a lengthy process for the Tigers administration as a quick fix is most definitely needed for the Tigers.

Auburn has ranked below 50th in total defense three years in a row. The Tigers have been able to stop the run on occasion, but their secondary has been extremely porous over the past three seasons. Whoever Chizik hires, it will need to be an excited name that will bring a rough mentality back to the Tigers defense. 

Everett Withers

Everett Withers has become a leading name for the replacement of Ted Roof according to auburnundercover.com. His name was rumored to be a part of the search already, but this was the first official report linking his name to the search.

Withers was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels from 2008-10. He most recently was promoted to interim head coach after the departure of Butch Davis. Withers has done an admirable job this season, keeping the Tar Heels above .500 and earning a fourth consecutive bowl bid.

Withers led a defense in 2009 that finished sixth in total defense and first in scoring defense. In 2010 he led a defense that lost numerous starters to sanctions and injuries to finish 30th in the country. Withers has also been a coordinator at Minnesota and Louisville, as well as numerous stints in the NFL.

Withers has been rumored to have been one of two coaches who have received contact from Auburn.

Mark Stoops

Mark Stoops has been a defensive coordinator for the past seven seasons with stints at Arizona and Florida State. He also served as a defensive coordinator for Houston in 2000. He has also coached defensive backs his entire career as a coordinator and position coach.

Stoops turned Arizona’s defense into a top 25 defense by 2009. Stoops also earned a great reputation coaching for the Miami (FL) Hurricanes from 2001-03. The Hurricanes set a single-season Miami record with 27 interceptions in 2001.

Stoops is a great candidate for coaching positions not only at the coordinator level, but also at the head coaching level. The Tigers are in need of a very explosive defensive coordinator hire, and Stoops would fit the bill. Unfortunately, it is a lateral move for Stoops and may not happen for the Tigers. 

Ellis Johnson

Johnson was one of the first names mentioned when the coordinator position became open for the Tigers. Johnson is a career coordinator who has two stints at the college level as a head coach. His first came at Gardner–Webb in 1983. His second opportunity came from 2001-03 at The Citadel.

Johnson has served as defensive coordinator at six different collegiate programs in his tenure as a college coach. He has stops as a coordinator at places such as Appalachian State, Southern Miss, Alabama, Clemson, Mississippi State and most recently South Carolina.

Johnson would be coming to Auburn making a lateral move and possibly a little more money. The one thing that would really intrigue the Tigers administration about gaining Ellis is that in his four seasons at South Carolina, he has led some of the best defenses in the SEC, despite the spread offense being the offense of choice for the Gamecocks.

Johnson is rumored to be a leading candidate for the recently opened head coaching position at Southern Miss, but outside of another head coaching opportunity, it may be tough to lure Johnson away from South Carolina.

Joe Whitt Jr.

Joe Whitt Jr. is a young up-and-coming coach in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers. Whitt Jr. is the son of former Auburn coaching legend Joe Whitt and has been in the professional ranks since 2007. He first made it to the NFL after coaching under Bobby Petrino at Louisville and then following him to Atlanta.

Whitt Jr. is an Auburn alum but has zero coordinator experience. If he were to come to Auburn as a coordinator, it would be a large jump for Whitt Jr. and a huge leap for the Auburn administration. The assumption would be that if Chizik were to hire Whitt Jr., he would have a large role in the defense initially.

Whitt Jr. is a very knowledgeable coach with a great coaching technique that would go over well with the Tigers players. He was also the recruiting coordinator for Louisville during his three seasons there. Whitt Jr. knows how to recruit.

The Tigers would likely have a lot of scrutiny with a hire like Whitt Jr., and he is likely a long-shot for the position. But if the Tigers do hire him and get it right, Chizik would look like a genius. 

Other Names

The guys and gals at auburnsports.com have put together a very extensive hot board, so to speak, that included some additional names outside of the four suspected leading candidates. Names like Ron Zook, Vic Koenning, Charlie Harbison and Kevin Green are some additional names mentioned.

Green is a candidate who could come to Auburn as an assistant or position coach as well as a coordinator. Green has a deep-rooted affection for his alma mater and would likely come back to Auburn if given the opportunity.

Auburn is likely to go after the big names on the list first, but these four mentioned appear to be viable candidates for the position. Either way the Tigers must make a splash in the hiring process as the Tigers have a huge need for a return to passionate play and excitement on the defensive side of the football. 

Michael Dyer Update

Michael Dyer has been officially suspended for the bowl game this coming Dec. 31. It was announced this past Saturday buried in the Heisman Trophy coverage. There are numerous rumors as to why Dyer has earned his suspension, but no reason was given.

Dyer was selected as a first team All-SEC running back this season after he rumbled for 1,242 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He averaged 5.1 yards a carry for the Tigers. Dyer was a huge part of Auburn’s offensive success this season. Without his ability on the field against Virginia, the Tigers offense will likely have questionable rushing production.

When Dyer will return has yet to be announced. The weight of the suspension is not clear. Any reasoning given at this point is pure speculation.