Former Auburn Head Coach Finds New Opportunity
The former head coach of Auburn has landed a new position.
In a recent update, it was reported by ESPN’s Chris Low and Adam Rittenberg that Bryan Harsin has been appointed as the new offensive coordinator at Cal, marking his return to a college football coaching staff after a two-year hiatus.
This announcement comes right on the heels of Auburn’s recently completed home-and-home series with the Golden Bears.
Harsin, a 48-year-old from Boise, Idaho, had a challenging tenure at Auburn following the Gus Malzahn era, ending with a record of 9-12. Despite the struggles, he did lead the Tigers to some notable victories, including a historic road win over LSU for the first time since 1999, as well as wins against No. 17 Arkansas and No. 10 Ole Miss, which boosted the team to No. 13 in the AP Poll.
However, that would be the high point for Harsin, who saw his team falter down the stretch, finishing the 2021 season on a five-game losing streak, including a narrow 24-22 loss to No. 1 Alabama in quadruple overtime after a promising 6-2 start. Auburn wrapped up the season with a 6-7 record, marking its first losing season since 2012.
In 2022, off-field issues and disappointing recruiting results put Harsin in a tough spot. Following a 2-0 start against Mercer and San Jose State, the team suffered a significant setback with a 41-12 loss to No. 22 Penn State at home, signaling the decline.
Auburn struggled through the next stretch, losing four of five games, leading to Harsin’s dismissal. The team had dropped 10 of its last 13 games, reflecting one of the toughest times in program history on the recruiting front.
With Harsin’s arrival, Cal is gaining a coach with a decade of head coaching experience and an impressive 85-36 record. He also brings 12 years of assistant coaching experience, totaling 22 years in the football coaching arena.
In 2024, Cal’s offense averaged 26.1 points and 382.8 total yards per game, placing them at No. 13 and No. 9 in the ACC, respectively.
Harsin will have his work cut out for him as he aims to elevate Cal’s offensive game to compete with top-tier ACC teams like Clemson and Miami.
