Hugh Freeze likes being on the golf course and he is not apologizing for it.
Auburn’s soccer coach has listened to his share of detractors this summer throughout the Tigers’ recruiting swoon, a lot of which have blamed it on Freeze’s time away from the gridiron. AL.com reported final month that Freeze has logged virtually a dozen rounds within the USGA’s Golf Handicap Info Community database this summer time — greater than 4 different SEC coaches with public handicap information.
“You realize, everyone appears to love to speak about my golf sport. … I do love golf. I take pleasure in taking part in. However what folks do not realize is, , I guarantee you that I by no means missed a camp day or a recruiting day,” Freeze said on David Pollack’s “See Ball Get Ball” podcast this week. “But when camp obtained over at three o’clock sooner or later, and Jill [Freeze] and I am going out at 4:30, we completely would possibly try 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 elites one point, however has fallen to the underside of the SEC over the past yr.
The Tigers presently have 9 commits for subsequent yr together with three four-stars, a gaggle that is collectively ranked No. 78 within the nation and second to final within the Energy 4 ranks, according to 247Sports.
Auburn invested expansive assets in its final two signing lessons, including 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 prime switch class with a number of high-impact additions.
Freeze mentioned on Pollack’s podcast that the Tigers are navigating within the rules of the new house 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 believe it is a lengthy sport play for us that I believe is gonna work out in our favor, as a result of we’re doing it very clear in the way in which we consider the settlement is written to function, if that makes any sense,” Freeze mentioned.