Auburn will retain DJ Durkin as defensive coordinator

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By Chris Marler

After a few days of speculation and uncertainty it looks like Auburn will retain defensive coordinator DJ Durkin under new head coach Alex Golesh.

Durkin’s name had made the short list of potential head coaches to replace Hugh Freeze after he was fired. Auburn went in a different direction, hiring South Florida head coach Alex Golesh.

DJ Durkin will remain at Auburn as defensive coordinator under new head coach Alex Golesh, sources tell @AuburnOn3

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— Justin Hokanson (@_JHokanson) December 2, 2025

“Choosing to keep DJ on our staff was an easy call,” said Golesh. “Our relationship goes back more than 20 years to our roots in Ohio, we have worked with some of the same men, and we’ve competed against each other in this great league. We are fortunate to retain one of the top defensive minds in college football here on The Plains. He’s an elite leader, incredible father and husband and will be a phenomenal leader on the defensive side of the ball. We have great respect for each other. Time to go to work.”

Durkin has been great at Auburn and led the Tigers to back-to-back seasons of top 35 defenses nationally in scoring and yards allowed. Durkin has been a defensive coordinator at four different schools in the SEC, but will stay at Auburn for 2026.