Tommy Tuberville

I am the current head coach at Auburn University. A native of Camden, Arkansas, I was an assistant coach at Arkansas State University, the University of Miami, and Texas A&M University prior to being named the first collegiate head coaching job at the University of Mississippi. In a somewhat contoversial move, I left Ole Miss after the 1998 season to take the head job at a SEC western division rival: Auburn. This left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Ole Miss supporters who felt I betrayed and marginalized in their position within the conference hierarchy. Also I played football in high school and lettered as free safety at Southern Arkansas University where I played from 1972-1976.During the 2003 season, I was the subject of an attempted behind-the-scenes palace coup. Auburn president William F. Walker and athletic director David Housel, with major support from Colonial Bank CEO Bobby Lowder, a prominent Auburn athletics booster and member of the school's board of trustees, decided to remove me. However, neither Walker nor Housel told me that my job was in danger. Two days before Auburn's biggest game of the year, the Iron Bowl against Alabama, Auburn officials, including Walker and Housel, secretly interviewed Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino for the Auburn job. Reports of the meeting quickly leaked to the media. After several denials, Auburn was forced to admit the meetings with Petrino, and the reaction from fans and media was so hostile that not only did Auburn decide to keep mr on, but Walker was forced to resign as the school's president within two months, and Housel later resigned as well.After an unbeaten 2004 regular season and an SEC title, I was named the AP Coach of the Year. The Tigers went on to win the Sugar Bowl after the regular season to complete a perfect 13-0 season after which both the American Football Coaches Association and the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year awards.I am married to Suzanne Fette and have two sons, Thomas Tucker and Troy Allen.