Auburn fires Bryan Harsin after less than 2 seasons

Auburn parted ways with head coach Bryan Harsin after he spent less than two seasons at the helm, the program announced Monday.

"Auburn will begin an immediate search for a coach that will return the Auburn program to a place where it is consistently competing at the highest levels and representing the winning tradition that is Auburn football," the program said in a statement obtained by Justin Ferguson of The Auburn Observer.

Running backs coach Carnell "Cadillac" Williams will serve as interim coach for the rest of the season, the school confirmed.

Auburn also announced Mississippi State's John Cohen as its new athletic director Monday.

The Tigers posted a 9-12 record under Harsin, including a 3-5 start to the 2022 campaign. His dismissal follows Saturday's 41-27 loss to Arkansas, which marked the team's fourth straight defeat.

Harsin is expected to receive more than $15 million in buyout money, with half of it due within the next 30 days, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

The Tigers hired Harsin to replace Gus Malzahn following the 2020 season. Auburn went 6-7 in his first campaign in command, which marked its lowest winning percentage since 2012.

Auburn launched an investigation into an alleged toxic culture within the program after numerous players and staff departed following Harsin's first season, though the probe found no reason to make changes and he was retained.