Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze was diagnosed with an “early form” of prostate cancer, the university announced in a statement Friday.
“Thankfully, it was detected early and his doctors have advised that it is very treatable and curable,” the statement, which was posted to X, read. “He will continue his normal coaching duties and responsibilities, and with forthcoming proper treatment, is expected to make a full recovery.
“Coach Freeze is incredibly appreciative of our medical professionals and has asked that we use his experience as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing and scheduling annual health screenings.”
Auburn revealed Freeze’s diagnosis less than a month before the Tigers will begin spring practice — on March 25, according to ESPN — and look to improve on a 5-7 season that ended without a bowl appearance.
Freeze, 55, has coached at the college level since taking over as Ole Miss’ tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator in 2006, and after four seasons as Liberty’s head coach, he took over at Auburn for the 2023 campaign.
In 2019, when making his coaching debut with the Flames, Freeze went viral for coaching from a hospital bed in the Liberty press box due to a following surgery for a herniated disc and a staph infection.
He was also the head coach at Lambuth, Arkansas State and Ole Miss — with his stint as the Rebels’ coach ending when he resigned in the wake of a scandal that included making calls to escort services.
Auburn went 6-7 during his first season with the Tigers, and their season ended with a loss to Maryland in the Music City Bowl.
Freeze and the Tigers won three of their final five games in 2024 — including a four-overtime thriller against then-No. 15 Texas A&M — but couldn’t overcome a slow start to their SEC schedule when Auburn dropped its first four conference games.
“Our kids have fought all year,” Freeze said after their win over the Aggies, according to the university’s athletics website. “Give [Texas A&M] credit for coming back but give our kids credit. I’m ecstatic that our seniors get to go out with their last game in Jordan-Hare Stadium being a win like this.”
The Tigers will open their 2025 slate at Baylor before returning home to host Ball State and South Alabama.
