Before coaching, Nix was a legend in college football as a player, earning Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors at Southern Miss in 1998, rushing for 1,180 yards and nine touchdowns. Although talented enough to make it to the NFL, health issues stemming from kidney disease forced Nix to cut his playing career short and move into coaching.

The No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide, led by quarterback Ty Simpson, face the Auburn Tigers on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.

The case is no different for Derrick Nix, who served as Auburn’s offensive coordinator and running backs coach for two seasons under Freeze. However, following the recent events and coaching change at the top, Nix was one of the coaching impacted and was relieved of his duties.

The Auburn Tigers hosted the Alabama Crimson Tide in a Week 14 college football game. Check out scores and highlights from the Crimson Tide win:

Auburn’s offense wasn’t terrible against Alabama, but it made too many mistakes to beat a team of the Crimson Tide’s caliber. The Tigers outgained Alabama 411-280, but the offense’s two turnovers were the difference in the game.

The Iron Bowl is renewed Saturday when Alabama travels to Auburn for a high stakes matchup. Following are live updates from the game.

Alabama travels to face archrival Auburn in the 2025 Iron Bowl. Here's how to watch, including time, TV schedule, streaming options and game odds

“It’s a childhood dream being from Alabama and to despise Alabama as much as I do, so it’s always been a dream to go to Auburn,” Shadrick Toodle Jr. said. “And it’s the best campus in the South, the best facilities in the South, the best coaches in the South. So I’m ready.”

That's not to say that Williams won't take a major step forward in 2026, and Alabama does have Lotzeir Brooks, Derek Meadows and Rico Scott in tow for next season, as well. Heck, the Crimson Tide also landed Cederian Morgan on early national signing day.