REPORT: South Florida DC Tom Allen candidate for Auburn

Matthew Stevens | Montgomery Advertiser

AUBURN – Multiple reports have suggested South Florida defensive coordinator Tom Allen is a candidate to fill Auburn’s current defensive coordinator opening.

Allen spent last year as the coordinator for a Bulls defense that was a major reason for their 8-4 record and the program’s first bowl game in five seasons. South Florida will play in the Miami Beach Bowl on Dec. 21 against Western Kentucky in in Marlins Park.

According to reports by FootballScoop.com and AuburnUndercover.com, Kelly turned down an official offer from Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn Thursday evening and a Tallahassee Democrat report suggested Florida State defensive coordinator Charles Kelly told a verbal commit the same thing as well.

Allen spent the previous three seasons at Ole Miss where he served as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator under Rebels head coach Hugh Freeze. Allen followed Freeze to Ole Miss from Arkansas State where he helped guide a defense that led the Sun Belt Conference in total defense (331.46 ypg) and scoring defense (20.77 ppg) and ranked in the top 25 nationally in both categories. Similarly to Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn, Allen spent 12 years as a high school coach. Allen served as head coach (2004-06) and defensive coordinator (1998-2003) at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, defensive coordinator at Marion (Ind.) High School (1997), defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Armwood High School in Sefner, Fla. (1995-96) and head coach at Temple Heights (Tampa) HS (1992-94). Allen was named the St. Petersburg Times’ Coach of the Year for Hillsborough County after he led Temple Heights to a 7-4 record and the first post-season appearance in the school’s 18-year history.

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn talking defensive coordinator options Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn talking defensive coordinator options

With the recruiting dead period, which restricts face-to-face contact with prospects, beginning Monday at midnight, Malzahn clearly did not get his preference to have a new defensive coordinator hire for possible in-house visits this past weekend.

“It would be good if we could," Malzahn said Thursday during the Birmingham Bowl media conference. “The earlier the better, but at the same time this is a big decision. This is a big decision and I just want to make sure we get it right -- and we will. We'll go from there.”

Malzahn is expected to announce an interim defensive coordinator and any other staff changes for the Birmingham Bowl against Memphis (9-3) on Monday when Auburn (6-6) begins practices for the game on Dec. 30.