Former Auburn Tigers running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams announced that he will be resigning as the running backs/assistant head coach Thursday.
In an article from the Montgomery Advisor, Williams expressed why he believed making the decision to resign was right for him.
“After taking time to pray and reflect, I have made the decision to resign from my position with Auburn football to pursue other opportunities,” Williams said in a statement. “I love Auburn, the players and AU family with all my heart, but this decision is what is best for me, my wife and sons.
“I am extremely grateful for the coaching opportunity given to me first by Coach (Gus) Malzahn and most recently by Coach (Hugh) Freeze. These past five years on the Plains have been nothing short of incredible. Auburn is and always will be a special part of my life. War Eagle!”
Williams is an icon among the Auburn fandom, and fans are upset to see him go.
Auburn Tigers former assistant coach Cadillac Williams was not hired by the current staff
Williams has remained a part of the Auburn staff through two coaching changes. He was initially hired by Gus Malzahn in 2019 after being a part of the Birmingham Iron in 2018, who are a part of the Alliance of American Football.
Williams then served as an assistant to Bryan Harsin after the Malzahn era. When Harsin was fired with four games left in the 2021 season, Williams served as the interim head coach for the Tigers. Williams went 2-2 and his only conference win was a 13-10 victory of the Texas A&M Aggies.
Williams has been a part of Hugh Freeze’s staff until his current resignation. Williams thanked Freeze in his statement of resignation, but rumors from Bama Hammer’s Ronald Evans said that Freeze wanted Williams to leave. In a Fly War Eagle article, Evans explains what he heard.
“Meanwhile from Auburn is a rumor that Hugh Freeze wants Cadillac Williams to leave,” Evans prefaced before saying, “The rumor includes some seedy accusations, not dissimilar to what was fabricated in an attempt to force Bryan Harsin to resign. Some Auburn fans, who have raved about Hugh Freeze, are having doubts.”
Freeze promoted Williams to the associate head coach position for what he did as the interim head coach. This increased Williams’ salary to $900,000. In the aforementioned Montgomery Advisor article, Freeze wished Williams well.
“We are incredibly appreciative of Carnell and what he’s done for the Auburn football program during his time on the coaching staff,” Freeze said. “He led Auburn through a time of transition and is one of the program’s all-time greats. I know this wasn’t easy for him, but I respect his decision and wish him nothing but the best.”
Williams’ rushing attack as the coach of the Tigers was the 23rd best in the country in 2023. The fourth best rushing attack in the SEC averaged 189 rushing yards per game.
Cadillac Williams was a legendary running back for the Auburn Tigers
Outside of Auburn legend Bo Jackson, Williams is widely considered to be the greatest running back in the school’s history. From 2001-2004, Williams had 3,831 yards rushing. This is the second-most rushing yards by any player in Auburn history.
Williams holds the all-time record for rushing touchdowns at Auburn with two more than Bo Jackson. Apart from Jackson, his 45 rushing touchdowns are 11 more than the next most at Auburn. Williams had two 1,000-yard rushing seasons at Auburn, and a staggering 17 rushing touchdowns in 2003.
Williams went on to play in the NFL from 2005-2011. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the St. Louis Rams, but his career was not what it could’ve been after suffering two devastating knee injuries in two years.
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