SEC's Greg Sankey When Clay Asked About Hugh Freeze: 'Our Schools Make Their Own Hiring Decisions'

Could Hugh Freeze return to coaching in the SEC after a successful run at Liberty, if Freeze so chooses?

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey provided some insight during a lengthy conversation with Clay Travis on OutKick The Show.

"Well, I give Hugh credit for his work at Liberty. It was fun to watch their bowl game and seeing him with his family at the end of the game, with a smile on his face," Sankey told Travis. "Good for him and how he's turned the page."

Freeze has been the head coach at Liberty since December 2018. The Flames finished 10-1 this past season, losing only to N.C. State and reaching the Cure Bowl, where they handed Coastal Carolina its only loss.

Before that, Freeze coached at Mississippi from 2012-16. His career there ended following a recruiting scandal involving boosters.

"Our schools make their own hiring decisions," Sankey told Travis. "I think we've been clear that the conference membership established that each school is responsible, for a head coach position or assistant coach position, to fully evaluate the background of the (candidates). They do that through our office. We share information that is publicly available. Then they make decisions.

Sankey added that schools "have to proceed carefully" when making a hire.

"Particularly when there's an issue or concern like has arisen this week (at Tennessee), there has to be extra caution exercised," he added.

That said, there doesn't appear to be any sort of SEC ban involving Freeze.

"I won't speak to any one individual," Sankey said, before adding, "I get blamed for a lot. So I'll take the blame. We expect our universities, and they expect each other, to be responsible in their personnel decisions. ... Ultimately, our campuses make those decisions."