2012 Auburn Tigers football team The 2012 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The team was coached by Gene Chizik , who was in his fourth season with Auburn . The Tigers played their home games at Jordan – Hare Stadium in Auburn , Alabama , and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference ( SEC ) . On November 25 , 2012 , Auburn Athletic Director Jay Jacobs fired head coach Gene Chizik and all of the assistant coaches after finishing the season 3 – 9 overall with a 0 – 8 record in Southeastern Conference play , the programs worst season in 60 years . Previous Season . Auburn finished 2011 with a record of 8 – 5 ( 4 – 4 SEC ) and won the Chick - fil - A Bowl over Virginia 43 – 24 . During the month leading up to the bowl game defensive coordinator Ted Roof resigned to take a similar position at Central Florida before ultimately becoming the defensive coordinator at Penn State , and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn resigned to become the head coach at Arkansas State , but remained with the Tigers through the bowl game . Star running back Michael Dyer was released from his scholarship and followed Malzahn to Arkansas State after violating undisclosed team rules prior to the bowl game . Forthcoming Season . A shooting at an off campus party took the lives of former players Ed Christian and LaDarius Phillips on June 9 after they had planned to transfer . Current Offensive Guard Eric Mack was also shot but survived , he remains on the team , but has not participated in summer drills . Freshman QB Zeke Pike was arrested for public intoxication and was dismissed from the team . Pike will transfer to Louisville . Other transfers included CB Jonathan Rose and OG Thomas O ' Reilly . DE Joel Bonomolo quit the team and linebacker Jawara White suffered a career ending neck injury . Transfers Corey Grant , Mike Blakely and Melvin Ray will be eligible to play this upcoming season . New Coordinators . The Tigers played the 2012 season with new coordinators on both offense and defense . On offense , Scot Loeffler took control . Loeffler was previously the offensive coordinator at Temple University , and has served stints as an assistant coach at Michigan , Florida and the Detroit Lions . While serving as a graduate assistant coach at Michigan , Loeffler tutored future New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady . The new Auburn defensive coordinator was Brian VanGorder , who most recently served in a similar capacity with the Atlanta Falcons . Also new to the Tigers defensive coaching staff is Willie Martinez , who will coach defensive backs . Martinez was most recently an assistant coach at Oklahoma . VanGorder and Martinez previously coached together at Georgia in the early 2000s . The Tigers switched to a more aggressive blitzing scheme on defense . The presence of VanGorder on the Tigers ’ coaching staff paid dividends in recruiting , as they secured commitments from several high profile recruits for the 2013 class . Depth Chart . " Offense " Quarterbacks Running Backs Fullbacks Wide Receiver Tight End Center Right Guard " Defense " Left End Defensive Tackle Defensive Tackle Right End " Special Teams " Team Captains Award Finalist Recruiting Class . The main focus in offseason recruiting was adding new offensive linemen . The Tigers signed seven , led by tackles Avery Young and Jordan Diamond , who were both rated five stars by Scouts . com . " Parade " All - American Shane Callahan and Patrick Miller , both rated as four star recruits , also highlight the recruiting class , as do tackle Will Adams and guard Robert Leff . The final signee to Auburn ’ s impressive class of offensive linemen is Alex Kozan , who signed with the Tigers three weeks after the National Signing Day . In addition , 2010 signee Shon Coleman has been cleared to play after being cured of acute leukemia . He will have four years of eligibility remaining . The only high school running back signed was Jovon Robinson ; however , he has been unable to practice until potential irregularities in his high school transcripts are resolved . Three running backs have transferred to the Tigers from other programs : Mike Blakely ( Florida ) , Corey Grant ( Alabama ) and fullback Jay Prosch ( Illinois ) . The Tigers added two four - star recruits at wide receiver . Ricardo Louis signed with Auburn , picking the Tigers over Florida State ; also , the Tigers beat out Georgia Tech for the services of JaQuay Williams . In addition , Melvin Ray transferred from Alabama and will be eligible for the 2013 season . The Tigers also signed two tight end s : highly regarded Ricky Parks and Darrien Hutchinson , who is 6 ’ 8 ” and weighs 272 pounds . On defense Auburn concentrated on the secondary , picking up four - star recruit Josh Hosely as well as T . J . Davis and Jonathan Jones . Defensive line signees include " Parade " All - American Gimel President and four - star recruit Tyler Nero , who has been timed running a 40 - yard dash in 4 . 62 seconds . Linebackers Cassanova McKinzy and Javier Mitchell round out the class .