AUBURN, Alabama – Dressed in an orange and blue tie, Auburn’s new head coach is on campus for the first time.
Bryan Harsin, hired from Boise State on Tuesday after a nine-day coach search, arrived in Auburn on Thursday afternoon, and his introductory press conference with reporters is scheduled for 3:30 pm CST.
Follow this link for Harsin’s live commentary, along with other Auburn athletics figures who make an appearance. Just refresh the page if you want to see the latest update.
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President Jay Gogue
• “This is a great day in the life of Auburn University,” says Gogue. He thanks Allen Greene and Auburn’s search committee. “We aim high and hit high.”
Athletic Director Allen Greene
• Many people worked “behind the scenes” to get a coach who carried the characteristics of what Auburn believes are necessary for the success of the next head coach.
• “There was a high level of interest on the part of NFL coordinators, coaches and coaches”.
• Greene says he met Harsin at an event five years ago. Your first thought? “I like this guy.”
• Greene jokes that Harsin’s wife, Kes, was the “best recruiter” to take Harsin to Auburn during the search.
Head coach Bryan Harsin
• “War Eagle. Good to say that.”
• Says that Auburn is a school for “special people” and “we plan to do special things along the way”.
• “This decision was simple. … As Auburn believes, this is what we are in our family.”
• “I have been fortunate to be in some fantastic positions in my career, and no better than the one I am in now.”
• “It’s very simple: we want to win championships. And we want to do it with class, we want to do it with integrity and we want to do it with academic excellence.”
• Harsin says he has already spoken to the team.
• He jokes that the first thing he will do is apply for another year of eligibility for Quentin Riggins and Bo Jackson.
• “It’s very simple: we want to win championships. And we want to do it with class, we want to do it with integrity and we want to do it with academic excellence.”
• “Football is a game of development, and so is life.”
• Harsin notes that he had four main coaches during his time at Boise State. That was part of his message to Auburn players: “I told our team, I understand what it’s like to go through changes like this.”
• “There was no place other than Auburn University that would take me away from a place like that. … There were other opportunities, but not like this.”
• Harsin says Boise State players found out that he was leaving for Auburn on Twitter, which he finds regrettable. He had a meeting with them the next day and said he will be “back” to make sure the program is still “thriving”.
• “Why Auburn? … It’s the people. For me, that’s the most important thing.”
• Harsin says the Auburn Creed has really resonated with him in the past few days as he read it in preparation for his arrival.
• “There is no bigger platform than Auburn University football. Period … I saw Auburn. I saw what they were able to do.”