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AUBURN — DJ Durkin is staying on the Plains for the 2026 season.

Auburn football announced Tuesday, Dec. 2, that newly hired head coach Alex Golesh is retaining Durkin, presumably as his defensive coordinator. Golesh said at his introductory press conference that he'd yet to have an update on Durkin's status, but he provided an answer to his biggest staff-related question in a statement Tuesday.

“Choosing to keep DJ on our staff was an easy call," Golesh said. "Our relationship goes back more than 20 years to our roots in Ohio, we have worked with some of the same men, and we’ve competed against each other in this great league.

"We are fortunate to retain one of the top defensive minds in college football here on The Plains. He's an elite leader, incre

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