Auburn, Ala. ? Auburn has hired Iowa State’s Gene Chizik as its new football coach.

Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard said that Chizik told him Saturday he was accepting the Auburn job. He called the timing of the situation and how it transpired “hurtful and disappointing.”

Chizik was 5-19 in two seasons at Iowa State after stints running the defenses at Auburn and Texas. He coached the nation’s top-scoring defense in his third and final season with the Tigers.

That 2004 defense allowed just 11 points a game, and Auburn went undefeated. The following season, Chizik took over the defense at Texas and helped the Longhorns win a national title.

Chizik will succeed Tommy Tuberville, who resigned following 10 seasons with an 85-40 record.