Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele missed the events for the Broyles Award on Monday and Tuesday, including the presentation of the award, because he was in New York interviewing for the head coaching job at Tennessee, a source confirmed.

AL.com reported Steele was a candidate for the head coaching job at Tennessee last week and a source confirmed he met with Volunteers athletic director Phillip Fulmer on Sunday and interviewed with Tennessee officials in New York on Tuesday.

ESPN reported Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker was also in New York interviewing with Fulmer, who is in town for the National Football Foundation's annual awards and induction of Peyton Manning into the College Football Hall of Fame, for a second time.

Steele, who was a first-time finalist for the Broyles Award, was not introduced with the other finalists in Little Rock, Ark. on Tuesday and missed a dinner with the finalists Monday night.

"He had some conflicts with, I just presume maybe some future job opportunities, and so Kevin could not be here today," David Bazzel of the Broyles Award said Tuesday. "He regrets it and he hates it, but we understand and coach Broyles would understand. We wish him the best he had an unbelievable year this year."

Steele played linebacker at Tennessee (1978-79) and began his coaching career as a student assistant with the Volunteers in 1980. He later served as a graduate assistant in 1980-81 and coached outside linebackers in 1982 before returning to Knoxville to coach defensive backs in 1987-88.

Following Auburn's loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game if he'd like to help his alma mater if given the opportunity, Steele said, "I got a pretty good job."

Should he leave Auburn, Steele's buyout per his original contract is $500,000. It's unclear if that figure changed in a recently signed contract extension, according to a source with knowledge of the matter, which has not been released.

James Crepea is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @JamesCrepea.