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Adam Rittenberg
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ESPN Senior Writer- College football reporter.
- He joined ESPN.com in 2008.
- Graduated from Northwestern University.
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Mark Schlabach
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ESPN Senior Writer- Senior College Football Writer
- Author of seven books on college football
- University of Georgia graduate
South Carolina offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and offensive line coach Will Friend agreed to accept the same positions at Auburn, sources told ESPN on Thursday.
On Monday, the South Carolina Board of Trustees approved contracts for Bobo and Friend, who were hired to join the team of Gamecocks’ new coach, Shane Beamer. Bobo was to receive a two-year deal that would pay him $ 1.2 million a season; Friend, who trained in Tennessee last year, reportedly received a two-year contract that paid $ 700,000 annually. It is not clear whether they signed the contracts.
Bobo and Friend are joining the team of Auburn’s new coach, Bryan Harsin. Harsin replaced Gus Malzahn, who was fired last month after eight seasons at Tigers. Harsin, 44, was 69-19 years old, with three Mountain West titles in seven seasons at Boise State, his alma mater.
Harsin chose former Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason as the defensive coordinator, sources told ESPN. Mason was Stanford’s defensive coordinator in 2012-13. Mason was fired after the Commodores went 0-8 last season. He had a 27-55 record in seven seasons at Vanderbilt. He is the sixth most successful coach in the program’s history and only the second to take the Commodores to two bowling games.