AUBURN, Alabama – Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart interviewed for the head coaching job with rival Auburn today, according to people familiar with the process.

Smart, 36, has never been a head coach, but he has built his reputation by producing a hard-nosed defense, teaming with Alabama coach Nick Saban to annually produce one of the nation's top defensive units. The former Georgia defensive back has coached with Saban at LSU, the Miami Dolphins and Alabama.

Alabama's defense is ranked first nationally this season, and it was last year.

If hired, he'd follow in the footsteps of some other assistants who made the leap to the rival school, including Pat Dye, who was on Paul Bryant's staff for nine years before eventually becoming Auburn's head coach; and Bill Oliver, who went from Auburn to Alabama, and then from being Alabama's defensive coordinator to being Auburn's defensive coordinator.

Auburn has been shuffling through a list of potential candidates that includes Arkansas State coach Gus Malzahn, TCU coach Gary Patterson, Boise State coach Chris Petersen, former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino and Louisville coach Charlie Strong.

Auburn has been looking for a replacement for Gene Chizik since firing him Nov. 25.

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