Gus Malzahn plans to hire defensive coordinator in 'near future'

AUBURN – Gus Malzahn would like to hire a new defensive coordinator in the "near future" but there is no clear timetable for the conclusion of the now week-old process.

"I'm not putting a definitive date on it," Malzahn said in his first public comments regarding the vacancy.

Auburn is believed to be interested in former Florida coach Will Muschamp, with a reported offer "in the neighborhood" of $1.5 million on table and was supposedly "getting closer" to being finalized with "some staffing issues needs to be smoothed out."

Malzahn would not say whether he has been in contact with Muschamp either directly, or through Jimmy Sexton, who represents both.

"I'm not going to get into any details regarding our search," Malzahn said. "It's just a matter of us trying to get the right guy and we'll see the timetable on that. … We're just looking for the right fit for Auburn at this time."

Muschamp, who is owed over $6 million from Florida over the next three years, was on vacation last week.

Malzahn fired Ellis Johnson a day after Auburn lost to top-ranked Alabama 55-44 in the Iron Bowl.

Prior to the season, Malzahn said his mind "never even goes there" regarding the possibility of ever making a change to his staff in season. He would not say when he decided to fire Johnson, who he supported just a week before the Iron Bowl.

"I'm not going to get into specifics between me and Ellis," Malzahn said. "Just felt like it was time that we make a change and go in a different direction with our defensive coordinator. … Ellis is a good coach, he's a very good person and I got a lot of respect for him."

Malzahn would not say whether decisions have been made regarding the futures of his defensive assistants. It's believed safeties coach Charlie Harbison would run the defense for Auburn in the Outback Bowl, but the situation is fluid until a coordinator is in place.

"We're still working through that right now," Malzahn said. "We're going to hire a defensive coordinator and kind of go from there."

Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen was not immediately sure how his team would prepare in light of Auburn not having a defensive coordinator and whether that would mean an assistant coach would handle the bowl game.

"We'll have to look at that as we move forward," Andersen said.