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Auburn Tigers legend Carnell 'Cadillac' Williams will take over as the football program's interim head coach following the termination of Bryan Harsin, the athletic department announced in a statement shared on its website Monday (October 31).
Williams, who has served as a running backs coach for his alma mater since 2019, was a running back and return specialist for the Tigers from 2001-04, earning All-American honors and being named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year during his final collegiate season.
"Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, who was an all-American running back at Auburn and has served as an assistant coach the previous four seasons, will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season," the athletic department said.
The 40-year-old is the first Black head football coach in Auburn's history.
Williams ranks first among all Auburn players with 46 career touchdowns and 741 career rushing attempts, as well as second only to Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson with 3,831 rushing yards and 4,173 yards from scrimmage.
The Gadsen native was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 5 overall in the 2005 NFL Draft and recorded a career best 1,178 yards and six touchdowns on 290 rushing attempts, as well as 20 receptions for 81 yards, to win the 2005 Associated Press NFL Rookie of the Year award.
The Tigers announced Harsin's termination after less than two full seasons on Monday.
Harsin finishes his career at Auburn with a 9-12 overall record (4-9 SEC) in less than two full seasons with the program, which included a 41-27 blowout loss to Arkansas on Saturday (October 29).
The Tigers are currently sixth in the SEC West Division standings with their lone conference win coming in a 17-14 victory against Missouri on September 24.