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Hugh Freeze

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Hugh Freeze

Danny Hugh Freeze Jr. (born September 27, 1969) is an American college football coach. He most recently served as the head coach for Auburn University. Freeze was a successful high school football coach at Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis, Tennessee, where he coached Michael Oher and Greg Hardy. He served as the head football coach at Lambuth University from 2008 to 2009, Arkansas State University in 2011, the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) from 2012 to 2016, and Liberty University from 2018 to 2022. He served as Auburn's head coach from 2023 to 2025, when he was fired mid-season after compiling the worst three-year start for a head coach at the school in 70 years. Under Freeze, the Ole Miss football program committed various recruiting and academic violations that figured in the NCAA's decision to expunge 27 of Freeze's wins and ban the team from post-season play for two years. After university officials attempted to paint Freeze's predecessor as the main culprit, they were sued for defamation and they subsequently issued a public apology. The team's star quarterback and other players told NCAA officials that Freeze lied to them about the charges while he recruited them. Freeze resigned from Ole Miss in 2017 after officials discovered that he had used a university cell phone to call escort services at least a dozen times over 33 months.

Infobox

2005
Ole Miss (assistant AD)
2010
Arkansas State (OC)
2011
Arkansas State
Born
(1969-09-27) September 27, 1969 (age 56)Oxford, Mississippi, U.S.
1989–1990
Northwest Mississippi CC
Fall 1990
Southern Miss
1992–1994
Briarcrest HS (TN) (OC/DB)
1995–2004
Briarcrest HS (TN)
2006–2007
Ole Miss (TE/RC)
2008–2009
Lambuth
2012–2016
Ole Miss
2019–2022
Liberty
2023–2025
Auburn
Overall
91–66[a]
Bowls
5–3[b]
Tournaments
1–2 (NAIA playoffs)

Tables

· Head coaching record
Lambuth Eagles (Mid-South Conference) (2008–2009)
Lambuth Eagles (Mid-South Conference) (2008–2009)
Year
Lambuth Eagles (Mid-South Conference) (2008–2009)
2008
2008
Year
2008
Team
Lambuth
Overall
8–4
Conference
4–1
Standing
T–1st (West)
2009
2009
Year
2009
Team
Lambuth
Overall
12–1
Conference
6–0
Standing
1st (West)
Bowl/playoffs
L NAIA Quarterfinal
Lambuth:
Lambuth:
Year
Lambuth:
Team
20–5
Overall
10–1
Arkansas State Red Wolves (Sun Belt Conference) (2011)
Arkansas State Red Wolves (Sun Belt Conference) (2011)
Year
Arkansas State Red Wolves (Sun Belt Conference) (2011)
2011
2011
Year
2011
Team
Arkansas State
Overall
10–2
Conference
8–0
Standing
1st
Bowl/playoffs
GoDaddy.com
Arkansas State:
Arkansas State:
Year
Arkansas State:
Team
10–2
Overall
8–0
Ole Miss Rebels (Southeastern Conference) (2012–2016)
Ole Miss Rebels (Southeastern Conference) (2012–2016)
Year
Ole Miss Rebels (Southeastern Conference) (2012–2016)
2012
2012
Year
2012
Team
Ole Miss
Overall
7–6
Conference
3–5
Standing
5th (Western)
Bowl/playoffs
W BBVA Compass
2013
2013
Year
2013
Team
Ole Miss
Overall
8–5
Conference
3–5
Standing
T–5th (Western)
Bowl/playoffs
W Music City
2014
2014
Year
2014
Team
Ole Miss
Overall
9–4
Conference
5–3
Standing
3rd (Western)
Bowl/playoffs
L Peach†
Coaches#
19
AP°
17
2015
2015
Year
2015
Team
Ole Miss
Overall
10–3
Conference
6–2
Standing
2nd (Western)
Bowl/playoffs
W Sugar†
Coaches#
9
AP°
10
2016
2016
Year
2016
Team
Ole Miss
Overall
5–7
Conference
2–6
Standing
7th (Western)
Ole Miss:
Ole Miss:
Year
Ole Miss:
Team
12–25
Overall
6–21
Liberty Flames (NCAA Division I FBS independent) (2019–2022)
Liberty Flames (NCAA Division I FBS independent) (2019–2022)
Year
Liberty Flames (NCAA Division I FBS independent) (2019–2022)
2019
2019
Year
2019
Team
Liberty
Overall
8–5
Bowl/playoffs
W Cure
2020
2020
Year
2020
Team
Liberty
Overall
10–1
Bowl/playoffs
W Cure
Coaches#
18
AP°
17
2021
2021
Year
2021
Team
Liberty
Overall
8–5
Bowl/playoffs
W LendingTree
2022
2022
Year
2022
Team
Liberty
Overall
8–4
Bowl/playoffs
Boca Raton
Liberty:
Liberty:
Year
Liberty:
Team
34–15
Auburn Tigers (Southeastern Conference) (2023–2025)
Auburn Tigers (Southeastern Conference) (2023–2025)
Year
Auburn Tigers (Southeastern Conference) (2023–2025)
2023
2023
Year
2023
Team
Auburn
Overall
6–7
Conference
3–5
Standing
5th (Western)
Bowl/playoffs
L Music City
2024
2024
Year
2024
Team
Auburn
Overall
5–7
Conference
2–6
Standing
T–13th
2025
2025
Year
2025
Team
Auburn
Overall
4–5
Conference
1–5
Auburn:
Auburn:
Year
Auburn:
Team
15–19
Overall
6–16
Total:
Total:
Year
Total:
Team
91–66
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
Year
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
mw- .mw- †Indicates Bowl Coalition, Bowl Alliance, BCS, or CFP / New Years' Six bowl. #Rankings from final Coaches Poll. °Rankings from final AP Poll.
mw- .mw- †Indicates Bowl Coalition, Bowl Alliance, BCS, or CFP / New Years' Six bowl. #Rankings from final Coaches Poll. °Rankings from final AP Poll.
Year
mw- .mw- †Indicates Bowl Coalition, Bowl Alliance, BCS, or CFP / New Years' Six bowl. #Rankings from final Coaches Poll. °Rankings from final AP Poll.
Year
Team
Overall
Conference
Standing
Bowl/playoffs
Coaches#
AP°
Lambuth Eagles (Mid-South Conference) (2008–2009)
2008
Lambuth
8–4
4–1
T–1st (West)
2009
Lambuth
12–1
6–0
1st (West)
L NAIA Quarterfinal
Lambuth:
20–5
10–1
Arkansas State Red Wolves (Sun Belt Conference) (2011)
2011
Arkansas State
10–2
8–0
1st
GoDaddy.com
Arkansas State:
10–2
8–0
Ole Miss Rebels (Southeastern Conference) (2012–2016)
2012
Ole Miss
7–6
3–5
5th (Western)
W BBVA Compass
2013
Ole Miss
8–5
3–5
T–5th (Western)
W Music City
2014
Ole Miss
9–4
5–3
3rd (Western)
L Peach†
19
17
2015
Ole Miss
10–3
6–2
2nd (Western)
W Sugar†
9
10
2016
Ole Miss
5–7
2–6
7th (Western)
Ole Miss:
12–25
6–21
Liberty Flames (NCAA Division I FBS independent) (2019–2022)
2019
Liberty
8–5
W Cure
2020
Liberty
10–1
W Cure
18
17
2021
Liberty
8–5
W LendingTree
2022
Liberty
8–4
Boca Raton
Liberty:
34–15
Auburn Tigers (Southeastern Conference) (2023–2025)
2023
Auburn
6–7
3–5
5th (Western)
L Music City
2024
Auburn
5–7
2–6
T–13th
2025
Auburn
4–5
1–5
Auburn:
15–19
6–16
Total:
91–66
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth
mw- †Indicates Bowl Coalition, Bowl Alliance, BCS, or CFP / New Years' Six bowl. from final Coaches Poll. °Rankings from final AP Poll.

References

  1. Does not include 27 wins vacated by the NCAA in 2019. Actual on-field record of 7–6 in 2012, 8–5 in 2013, 9–4 in 2014, a
  2. The 2013 BBVA Compass Bowl victory was vacated by the NCAA in 2019.
  3. Did not coach bowl game
  4. Did not coach bowl game
  5. Auburn fired Freeze after nine games.
  6. WREG.com
    https://wreg.com/2019/02/12/ole-miss-football-forced-to-vacate-33-wins-after-investigation/
  7. Houma Today
    http://www.houmatoday.com/news/20091224/nicholls-coaching-search-nets-42-applicants
  8. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35132793/freeze-agrees-next-coach-auburn-sources-say
  9. Montgomery Advertiser
    https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/auburn/2025/11/02/hugh-freeze-fired-auburn-football-coach/86399691007/
  10. CBS Sports
    https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/auburn-fires-coach-hugh-freeze-tigers-end-disappointing-tenure-after-dropping-to-1-5-in-sec-play-this-season/
  11. SI.com
    https://www.si.com/college-football/2019/02/12/ole-miss-vacates-wins-ncaa-violations
  12. Sports Illustrated
    https://www.si.com/college/2017/10/16/ole-miss-houston-nutt-lawsuit-settlement
  13. CBSSports.com
    https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ole-miss-transfers-building-appeal-cases-proving-they-were-misled-by-hugh-freeze/
  14. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/20421042/review-shows-former-ole-miss-coach-hugh-freeze-made-least-12-calls-escort-services
  15. ESPN.com
    http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/20117453/hugh-freeze-ole-miss-rebels-resigns-escort-service-calls-cited
  16. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/11748804/hugh-freeze-living-dream-coach-ole-miss-rebels
  17. Ole Miss Athletics – Hotty Toddy
    https://olemisssports.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/hugh-freeze/296
  18. "Thirteen Former Rangers to Compete in FBS Bowl Games"
    https://nwccrangers.com/news/2019/12/9/football-blank-former-rangers-to-compete-in-fbs-bowl-games.aspx
  19. YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhFSGV6sEQE
  20. "SOUTHERN MISS' COACHES, FRIENDS HELPED MOLD HUGH FREEze's LIFE – by Robert Wilson"
    https://mississippiscoreboard.com/southern-miss-coaches-friends-helped-mold-hugh-freezes-life-by-robert-wilson/
  21. Hugh Freeze Bio, Arkansas State University, retrieved December 16, 2010.
    http://www.astateredwolves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7200&ATCLID=204944063
  22. The Commercial Appeal
    https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/2017/07/24/briarcrest-christian-school-hugh-freezes-legacy-everywhere/506677001/
  23. "Briarcrest Christian School – Athletics – HS – Team Pages – Fball – 1998–2009"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20101213161936/http://briarcrest.com/page.aspx?pid=821
  24. The Columbian
    https://www.columbian.com/news/2010/dec/03/ohers-hs-coach-gets-top-job-at-arkansas-state/
  25. The New York Times
    https://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/10/22/sports/ncaafootball/hugh-freeze-coach-at-ole-miss-follows-an-unlikely-blueprint.html
  26. AL.com
    https://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2017/07/hugh_freeze_stories_emerge_fro.html
  27. USA Today
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2017/07/29/who-hugh-freeze-conflicting-views-former-ole-miss-coach-emerge/522705001/
  28. WTOK.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033153/http://www.wtok.com/sports/headlines/13665882.html
  29. Hugh Freeze Named Lambuth University Head Football Coach, Lambuth University, January 19, 2008.
    http://www.lambutheagles.com/article/252.php
  30. ArkansasStateRedWolves.com
    http://www.astateredwolves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=204896317&DB_OEM_ID=7200
  31. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=5875374
  32. "2011 Arkansas State Red Wolves Stats"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20121109125126/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/arkansas-state/2011.html
  33. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/7319777/hugh-freeze-mississippi-rebels-emotional-accepting-coaching-job
  34. WSJ
    https://www.wsj.com/articles/hugh-freezes-ouster-at-ole-miss-linked-to-multiple-recruiting-trips-1502896100
  35. Sports Reference
    https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/mississippi/2012-schedule.html
  36. Sports Reference
    https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2013-01-05-mississippi.html
  37. ESPN.com
    https://insider.espn.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/classrankings?class=2013
  38. Sports Reference
    https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/mississippi/2013-schedule.html
  39. Sports Reference
    https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2013-12-30-georgia-tech.html
  40. FCA.org
    http://www.fca.org/2014/01/13/hugh-freeze-named-grant-teaff-coach-of-the-year/
  41. Sports Reference
    https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/mississippi/2014-schedule.html
  42. Sports Reference
    https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/mississippi/
  43. Sports Reference
    https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2014-12-31-texas-christian.html
  44. Sports Reference
    https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/mississippi/bowls.html
  45. Yahoo! Sports
    https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/ole-miss-beats-alabama-43-37-for-second-straight-win-over-tide-053149445.html
  46. Sports Reference
    https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/mississippi/2015-schedule.html
  47. Sports Reference
    https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2016-01-01-mississippi.html
  48. Sports Reference
    https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/mississippi/polls.html
  49. "The updated list of 21 NCAA allegations against Ole Miss football"
    https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/2/22/14703296/ole-miss-ncaa-allegations-list-2017
  50. USA TODAY
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/columnist/dan-wolken/2017/10/12/houston-nutt-lawsuit-ole-miss-definitely-owes-apology/759262001/
  51. ESPN
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/15424437/2016-nfl-draft-laremy-tunsil-admits-taking-cash-ole-miss-rebels-coach
  52. FOX Sports
    https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/freezes-fall-at-ole-miss-partially-traced-to-nutts-suit
  53. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/24365150/florida-gators-wr-van-jefferson-eligible-play-2018
  54. USA TODAY
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2018/05/10/ole-miss-transfers-eligible/600410002/
  55. USA TODAY
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2017/07/20/ole-miss-coach-hugh-freeze-called-number-tied-escort-service/498056001/
  56. Chicago Tribune
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170816085029/http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/sns-bc-fbc--mississippi-freezes-downfall-20170721-story.html
  57. Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal
    https://www.djournal.com/sports/notebook-nutt-settlement-if-not-arkansas-who-finding-brown-and-more/article_8cdd60d0-ce64-59de-835b-6e0363416cfa.html
  58. USA Today
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2017/07/20/ole-miss-coach-hugh-freeze-called-number-tied-escort-service/498056001/
  59. The Oxford Eagle
    https://www.oxfordeagle.com/2017/07/20/ole-miss-coach-hugh-freeze-resigns-following-report-of-alleged-call-to-escort-service/
  60. NCAA.org
    https://www.ncaa.org/news/2017/12/1/ole-miss-lacked-institutional-control-in-football-program.aspx
  61. ESPN
    http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/24958631/ex-ole-miss-coach-hugh-freeze-oc-new-league
  62. SI.com
    https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/12/07/liberty-university-hires-former-ole-miss-coach-hugh-freeze
  63. Sports Reference
    https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/liberty/2019-schedule.html
  64. AL.com
    https://www.al.com/sec/2019/12/liberty-extends-hugh-freezes-contract.html
  65. Sports Reference
    https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/liberty/2020-schedule.html
  66. CBSSports.com
    https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/liberty-coach-hugh-freeze-tests-positive-for-covid-19-as-program-deals-with-outbreak/
  67. Saturday Down South
    https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/south-carolina-football/hugh-freeze-south-carolina-college-gameday-2020/
  68. Sports Reference
    https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/liberty/2021-schedule.html
  69. Sports Reference
    https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2021-12-18-liberty.html
  70. WSET
    https://wset.com/news/abc13-investigates/settlement-reached-in-claim-liberty-university-hid-rapes-punished-victims-sexual-assault-lawsuit-allegations-may-11-2022-lynchburg
  71. Yahoo! Sports
    https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/baylor-board-chair--investigation-findings--shocked-and-outraged-us-165738271.html
  72. AL.com
    https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2022/11/chelsea-andrews-auburn-never-asked-about-hugh-freeze-messages-defending-libertys-ian-mccaw.html
  73. Inside Higher Ed
    https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2022/07/18/liberty-coach-takes-aim-sex-assault-survivor-twitter
  74. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35141275/new-coach-freeze-confident-auburn-end-result
  75. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35132793/freeze-agrees-next-coach-auburn-sources-say
  76. Sports Reference
    https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/auburn/2023-schedule.html
  77. NBC Sports
    https://www.nbcsports.com/college-football/news/edwards-runs-throws-for-a-td-as-maryland-routs-auburn-31-13-in-music-city-bowl
  78. USA TODAY
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/10/08/auburn-football-coach-hugh-freeze-2025-contract-details-salary-buyout-and-more/86573996007/
  79. "Jill Freeze—Her Life and Calling – Mississippi Christian Living"
    https://mschristianliving.com/2016/covers/jill-freeze-life-calling/
  80. Baptist Press
    https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/hugh-jill-freeze-speak-of-gods-grace-at-liberty-u/
  81. The Oxford Eagle
    https://www.oxfordeagle.com/2017/07/26/hugh-freeze-asks-for-prayer-looking-to-get-life-back-together-mississippi-pastor/
  82. Baptist Press
    https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/ole-miss-coach-resigns-amid-scandal-requests-prayer/
  83. The Tennessean
    https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2017/08/04/public-sin-how-evangelical-christians-responding/520251001/
  84. ESPN
    https://www.espn.in/college-football/story/_/id/44057548/auburn-coach-hugh-freeze-diagnosed-prostate-cancer
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