Hugh Freeze made an important addition to his Auburn football coaching staff this week when he announced DJ Durkin will serve as defensive coordinator.
And while Durkin brings a track record of previous success at his two most recent positions — at Texas A&M and Ole Miss before that — there is also the question of some controversy from when Durkin served as head coach at Maryland, when in 2018, Terrapins offensive lineman Jordan McNair collapsed during a workout, was hospitalized with heat stroke, and died two weeks later.
Speaking about Durkin coming aboard at Auburn, Freeze remarked in part that "our practices will look quite different with him," a statement that AL.com's Matt Cohen said was "so tone deaf" considering the McNair situation.
Maryland initially suspended Durkin over the incident in 2018, but reinstated him as head coach shortly afterwards. That decision, however, resulted in considerable public outcry from students and state lawmakers, and ultimately resulted in his being relieved by the school.
Afterwards, players and people around the program told ESPN that Durkin's tenure at the school involved a "coaching environment based on fear and intimidation," that included the "belittling, humiliation, and embarrassment of players."
Later that year, AL.com reported that Durkin had worked with the Alabama program as a quasi-consultant to help prepare the football team for its Orange Bowl semifinal appearance.
Durkin has been in the SEC since the 2020 season, serving as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Ole Miss through the 2021 campaign, and as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Texas A&M through this past season.
A&M ranked No. 1 nationally against the pass, was 17th in passing defensive efficiency, and 22nd in scoring defense in Durkin's debut season there. It was 36th in scoring defense and 13th against the run in the 2023 season.
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