Former SEC Head Coach Mourns Death of 'Auburn Legend'

Longtime Auburn sportswriter Phillip Marshall, who covered the Tigers for over 50 years, passed away.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 3:47pm

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Former Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze took to social media to mourn the passing of longtime Auburn sportswriter Phillip Marshall, who covered the Tigers' football program for over half a century. Marshall, the son of another legendary Auburn sportswriter, was remembered fondly by Freeze as well as other former Auburn coaches like Bruce Pearl and Gus Malzahn.

Why it matters

Marshall's death marks the end of an era in Auburn sports journalism, as he had covered the program through the tenures of multiple head coaches dating back to the late 1960s. His extensive experience and deep knowledge of Auburn football made him a revered figure in the community.

The details

Marshall began covering Auburn sports in 1969 and witnessed the final seasons of legendary coach Ralph 'Shug' Jordan, the rise of coach Pat Dye in the 1980s, and Cam Newton's championship season in 2010. He covered Auburn under nine different head coaches over his career before the program hired Alex Golesh as the new head coach.

  • Marshall began covering Auburn sports in late 1969.
  • He covered Auburn football under nine different head coaches over his career.
  • The program hired Alex Golesh as the new head coach after Marshall's passing.

The players

Hugh Freeze

The former head coach of the Auburn football team who was fired in the middle of the 2025 season.

Phillip Marshall

A legendary sportswriter who covered the Auburn football program for over 50 years, spanning the tenures of multiple head coaches.

Bruce Pearl

The former head coach of the Auburn basketball team who paid tribute to Marshall on social media.

Gus Malzahn

The former head coach of the Auburn football team who is now the offensive coordinator at Florida State.

Ralph 'Shug' Jordan

The legendary Auburn football coach whose final seasons were covered by Marshall.

Pat Dye

The coach who helped Auburn rebound in the mid and late 1980s, leading to four straight top 10 seasons, and was covered by Marshall.

Cam Newton

The Auburn quarterback who led the Tigers to an undisputed championship season in 2010, which Marshall covered.

Alex Golesh

The newly hired head coach of the Auburn football team.

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What’s next

The program will continue to mourn the loss of Phillip Marshall, a beloved figure who covered Auburn football for over 50 years.

The takeaway

Marshall's passing marks the end of an era in Auburn sports journalism, as his extensive experience and deep knowledge of the program made him an invaluable voice in the community. His legacy will continue to be felt through the generations of Auburn fans and journalists he inspired.