On Sunday morning, the coaching carousel took a dramatic turn when three American Conference head coaches were scooped up by SEC programs, signaling a major shift in both leagues. Among those moves, Auburn University reached an agreement with South Florida’s Alex Golesh, whose hiring was finalized just two days before USF closed its regular season with a dominant 52–3 win over Rice.
Auburn athletic director John Cohen spoke glowingly about the hire, praising Golesh’s track record and the qualities that convinced the university he was the right fit. “He has produced wins and record-setting results throughout his entire career, including over the last three seasons at USF,” Cohen said in a formal statement. He continued by emphasizing Golesh’s national reputation and coaching versatility, noting that “Alex is known nationally for his player development prowess, ability to shape creative and explosive offenses, and his relentless approach to building winning programs.” Cohen also highlighted Golesh’s diverse coaching background on both sides of the ball and the attitude he believes Auburn needs. “In our conversations, he showed the determination and edge that this program demands of its head coach. I want to welcome Alex, his wife Alexis and children Corbin and Barrett to the Auburn Family.”
Golesh leaves South Florida after three seasons in which he engineered one of the most rapid program turnarounds in recent memory. Taking over a team that had gone 4–29 in the previous three years and held the nation’s longest active losing streak against FBS opponents, Golesh immediately delivered results. He capped his first season with a 45–0 rout of Syracuse in the 2023 Boca Raton Bowl, finishing 7–6, and followed it with a thrilling 41–39 victory over San Jose State in the 2024 Hawaii Bowl, ending year two with another 7–6 record.
The 2025 season became his breakthrough. Entering bowl season at 9–3, the Bulls opened the year with consecutive victories over ranked teams, beating both Boise State and Florida. Eight of their nine wins came by at least 27 points, including a headline-grabbing 63–36 dismantling of 10–1 North Texas. Their success propelled them into the national conversation, as USF appeared in the AP Top 25 during five separate weeks and peaked at No. 18 twice — their first time in the rankings since 2018. They also earned a spot in the College Football Playoff rankings in November and remained in contention for a historic playoff berth until falling 41–38 at Navy.
Golesh’s reputation as an offensive mastermind continued to grow this season. USF sits fourth nationally in scoring, averaging 43.0 points per game, and has scored 48 or more points in seven of its 12 contests. They are second in total offense at 502 yards per game, displaying balance with a unit that ranks 11th in rushing and 19th in passing. Much of that production stems from dual-threat quarterback Byrum Brown, who thrived in Golesh’s hallmark up-tempo spread system. The scheme, built on spacing, vertical attacking, and lightning-fast pacing, shares DNA with the offense Golesh coordinated alongside Josh Heupel at Tennessee, but with several innovations of his own added in recent years.
The Bulls also saw substantial growth on defense in 2025. They ranked eighth nationally with 23 forced turnovers and showcased far more toughness at the line of scrimmage, limiting opposing rushers to just 3.6 yards per carry — a notable improvement from prior seasons.
Now set to become Auburn’s 33rd full-time head coach, Golesh inherits a program seeking stability after Hugh Freeze was fired on November 2 following three seasons at the helm. He will be Auburn’s fourth head coach of the 2020s, stepping in at a time when the Tigers have endured five straight seasons with seven losses.
Golesh’s task for 2026 will be clear: bring the same revitalizing energy and rapid transformation he brought to USF, and guide Auburn back to the level of success the program expects.