Hugh Freeze Gives Health Update and Talks About His Future After Auburn Exit

Former Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has been dealing with more than football over the last year. In February 2025, he shared that he had early-stage prostate cancer. Doctors said the cancer was low-aggressive, so he did not choose surgery right away. But after his firing from Auburn, Freeze says his health is finally improving — and he still wants to coach again.

Hugh Freeze talked about everything on David Pollack’s See Ball Get Ball podcast. He explained that he recently had major back surgery he had needed for a long time.

“I’m not through coaching,” Freeze said. “I needed this back surgery for about a year. The pain got really bad. My doctor had to give me a lot of shots just so I could move. Now I’m walking without pain for the first time in a long time. I feel good. I feel healthy. I want to coach again.”

Many people did not know how serious his back pain had become. Freeze has dealt with back problems since 2019, when a simple surgery at Liberty turned into an emergency. A dangerous staph infection entered his bloodstream, and he had to stay in the hospital for weeks. He even coached games from a hospital bed during that time. The infection caused long-term damage, and he has needed medical care ever since.

After his Auburn exit, Hugh Freeze’s daughter Madi said his health had “declined in the months” after his cancer diagnosis. She also said she was thankful he could finally get the surgeries he needed. Earlier this year, Freeze said he felt “great” while fighting cancer, but his back kept causing him trouble.

His timing at Auburn could not have been worse. Even though doctors caught the cancer early, he was dealing with treatments, constant back pain, and the stress of coaching in the SEC all at once. Now that his back surgery is done and his cancer care is moving forward, Freeze says he feels like himself again.

Freeze also spoke honestly about how he feels after being fired.

“I’m kind of pissed off,” he said. “I have something to prove. My résumé speaks for itself.”

Hugh Freeze said he felt a mix of emotions — frustration, disappointment, and also gratitude for Auburn. His 15–19 record is the only losing mark in his 15-year head-coaching career. Overall, he has a 91–66 record.

“I’ve won everywhere except Auburn,” he said. “It’s a dose of humility.”

Auburn is moving on under new coach Alex Golesh and owes Hugh Freeze $15.8 million in buyout money. With his health improving and his energy back, Freeze seems ready for a comeback when the right job opens.

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