Hugh Freeze likes being on the golf course and he isn’t apologizing for it.
Auburn’s soccer coach has listened to his share of detractors this summer season throughout the Tigers’ recruiting swoon, lots of which have blamed it on Freeze’s time away from the gridiron. AL.com reported final month that Freeze has logged nearly a dozen rounds within the USGA’s Golf Handicap Data Community database this summer season — greater than 4 different SEC coaches with public handicap data.
“, everyone appears to love to speak about my golf sport. … I do love golf. I get pleasure from taking part in. However what folks do not understand is, , I guarantee you that I by no means missed a camp day or a recruiting day,” Freeze mentioned on David Pollack’s “See Ball Get Ball” podcast this week. “But when camp received over at three o’clock someday, and Jill [Freeze] and I’m going out at 4:30, we completely would possibly do this. And I am not apologizing for that a part of it. However my focus is 100% on getting Auburn in that win column this fall.”
Auburn’s 2026 recruiting class was ranked among the many elites one level, however has fallen to the underside of the SEC over the past 12 months.
The Tigers at present have 9 commits for subsequent 12 months together with three four-stars, a bunch that is collectively ranked No. 78 within the nation and second to final within the Energy 4 ranks, in keeping with 247Sports.
Auburn invested expansive sources in its final two signing courses, together with the eighth-best haul for the 2025 cycle. Not solely did the Tigers land five-star defensive lineman Malik Autry and coveted four-star quarterback Deuce Knight, however Auburn completed with a high switch class with a number of high-impact additions.
Freeze mentioned on Pollack’s podcast that the Tigers are navigating inside the guidelines of the brand new home settlement and have a plan in place to achieve success on the recruiting path.
His golf infatuation has not interfered with Auburn soccer, he says.
“I feel it is a lengthy sport play for us that I feel is gonna work out in our favor, as a result of we’re doing it very clear in the best way we imagine the settlement is written to function, if that makes any sense,” Freeze mentioned.
