Auburn fired coach Bryan Harsin on Monday after less than two seasons, ending a rocky tenure in which the proud program struggled to compete in the Southeastern Conference.

Harsin went 9-12 overall and 3-5 this year. Auburn has lost four straight games while struggling against Power Five foes, including a 41-27 loss to Arkansas on Saturday that proved the final straw.

Auburn will owe Harsin 70% of his remaining contract — more than $15 million — and half of that must be paid within 30 days.

The school named running backs coach Carnell “Cadillac” Williams as interim coach.

Harsin, 45, was hired away from Boise State in December 2020 and Auburn gave him a six-year, $31.5 million deal. He never came close to replicating his past success or making the Tigers competitive in the SEC, and he failed to keep up with rivals Georgia and Alabama on the field or on the recruiting trail.

Those results were unacceptable to a program that won a national title in 2010 and played for another in 2013, when it won the most recent of its eight SEC championships.

New AD John Cohen, who had held the same post at Mississippi State until Monday, will take on the job of finding Harsin’s replacement.

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