Utah State athletic director John Hartwell expresses interest in Auburn AD opening

AUBURN — Utah State athletic director John Hartwell said in a radio interview Wednesday that he "would absolutely listen" if contacted by Auburn about the school's AD opening.

Hartwell was appearing on WNSP 105.5 FM in Mobile ahead of Utah State's football game at Alabama on Saturday. His name has appeared on several lists as a potential candidate as Auburn begins a national search to replace Allen Greene, who resigned last Friday.

“That’s flattering to be associated with the job,” Hartwell said when asked about his name being floated. “To answer your question, I still think it’s one of the very best jobs in the entire country. And so if they called, I would absolutely listen.”

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Hartwell has been at Utah State since 2015. His first AD job was at Troy from 2012-15. His resume resembles Greene's when he got the Auburn job in 2018: both accomplished Group of Five administrators looking for their first power conference AD job. They also both worked in the Ole Miss athletics department from 2009-12. (Hartwell started there in 2003.)

Hartwell, a Mobile native, shared that both of his parents and both of his sisters are Auburn grads. His grandfather and father are longtime Auburn football season ticket holders. Hartwell said he was in attendance for the famed "Punt Bama Punt" Iron Bowl in Birmingham.

“The opportunity to potentially lead a program in the SEC," Hartwell said, "in my home state where I’ve had long-time family affiliation with — I would certainly listen."

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn athletic director candidates: John Hartwell is interested