DJ Durkin stepped into one of the toughest positions in college football when Auburn fired Hugh Freeze during a disappointing season. The Tigers were struggling in SEC play, and the program needed stability and direction fast.
Durkin, the defensive coordinator at the time, was elevated to interim head coach and immediately became the face of Auburn’s reset. As the games have unfolded, Durkin has handled the role with composure and has positioned himself as more than a temporary solution.
With Auburn preparing for major decisions about the program’s future, attention has shifted beyond his coaching record and into his background off the field. That includes growing interest in his personal life, especially his family and his wife, who has been with him through every stop in his coaching journey.
Who is DJ Durkin’s Wife?
Durkin is married to Sarah Durkin, and the couple has been together for more than two decades. They married in 2002 and have built their family across multiple states as Durkin’s coaching career has evolved. Sarah and DJ have two children: a daughter, Abigail, and a son, Luke.
Sarah has generally maintained a low public profile, but she has been mentioned consistently in official team bios and features written during Durkin’s time as a head coach and coordinator. She has been a steady presence in Durkin’s rise to potentially becoming the head coach of the Tigers.
Her support has been a central part of Durkin’s ability to remain focused on the field through stops at high-pressure programs. While Sarah avoids the spotlight, the possibility of him becoming the next head coach for the Tigers is bringing attention to the Durkin family.
DJ Durkin Is Likely to Become the Head Coach
Durkin’s tenure as interim has gained traction far beyond a short-term assignment. According to reporting from John Talty of CBS Sports, multiple industry sources believe Durkin is a strong contender to land the Auburn job, a stance echoed by those close to the program.
His leadership during a turbulent stretch, paired with his long defensive track record, has put him at the center of Auburn’s coaching search.
“Industry sources have continued to tell @mzenitz and me that D.J. Durkin is a strong contender to land the Auburn head coaching job heading into tonight’s Iron Bowl against Alabama,” Talty posted on X.
As we also reported Wednesday, Durkin is in an interesting position. he is “both a candidate for the full-time job and someone that some in the Auburn sphere would like to stay on under the next coach’s direction.” https://t.co/1Vo2UTaRsC https://t.co/FyiCUXW018
— Richard🇬🇾Johnson (@RJ_cfb) November 30, 2025
Moments later, Richard Johnson of CBS Sports chimed in on the discussion. He stated that Durkin is in an interesting space right now. While he is a frontrunner to become the next head coach, several people within the program want him to stay under the next coach for now.
If he closes the season strong, he stands positioned to move from interim status to a full-time head coach, marking a significant chapter in both his career and Auburn’s long-term rebuild.
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