Auburn is reportedly "laying the groundwork" to dismiss Athletics Director Jay Jacobs following recent university scandals, according to AL.com's Kevin Scarbinsky.
According to the website, the only remaining variables in the process are who will replace Jacobs and when the transition will take place unless leadership changes its current position.
AL.com reports that the transition is expected to begin after the 2017 football season, but recent scandals involving the Auburn softball and men's basketball programs have sped up the process, a source with knowledge of the situation told the website.
Jacobs, a former Auburn walk-on football player, took over as athletics director in 2004 after having previously served numerous other titles within the athletics department for two decades. During his tenure, the Tigers have won 12 national championships in numerous sports, however, the program has faced numerous coaching disappointing hires and scandals in recent years.
Birmingham law firm Lightfoot, Franklin and White is currently undergoing separate reviews at the request of the university for the softball and men's basketball programs, according to AL.com.
The softball review follows the resignation of former head coach Clint Myers and associate head coach Corey Myers. Both coaches left the program after a Title IX complaint accured the younger Myers pursuing improper relationships with student-athletes while his father allowed his behavior to take place.
The men's basketball review occurred after an FBI probe resulted in the arrests of 10 different people connected to the team, including associate head coach Chuck Person. Person who was charged with six federal crimes for his alleged involvement in a bribery and conspiracy scheme to set players up with former a financial adviser named Martin Blazer, who was working undercover for the FBI as an informant, according to AL.com.
