There’s a new head coach on The Plains. USF head coach and former Tennessee offensive coordinator under Josh Heupel, Alex Golesh, was named the 33rd head coach in Auburn football program history on Sunday, succeeding the fired Hugh Freeze.
Golesh issued a statement in Auburn’s press release about the move.
“I want to thank President Roberts and John Cohen for the opportunity to lead the Auburn program,” Golesh said. “Auburn Football is one of the proudest, most tradition-rich programs in all of college football and my family and I could not be more excited to join the Auburn Family. This will be a player-driven program, and no one will outwork our staff.
“Auburn has won, can win and will win championships. Let’s get to work.”
Auburn Athletics Director John Cohen also gave his thoughts on the decision to hire Golesh.
“We are thrilled to announce Alex Golesh as the 33rd head coach of Auburn Football,” Cohen said. “He has produced wins and record-setting results throughout his entire career, including over the last three seasons at USF. Alex is known nationally for his player development prowess, ability to shape creative and explosive offenses, and his relentless approach to building winning programs. I was also struck by his coaching experience on both sides of the ball. 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.”
A new chapter. A renewed standard.
This isn’t just another place,
This is Auburn 🦅#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/tiGdLCSSYR— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 30, 2025
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Golesh just wrapped up his third season as head coach at USF, where he’s helped lead the Bulls to a 23-15 record. The offensive-minded coach inherited a terrible situation in Tampa with the Bulls posting a 1-11 record the year before his arrival. But Golesh got USF back to a bowl game in his first year as head coach.
USF went 7-6 in each of Golesh’s first two years as head coach before taking another leap this season. The Bulls broke onto the scene back in September with an upset win over Florida and looked like a legit group of five College Football Playoff contender. But an upset loss against Navy earlier this month dashed the Bulls’ playoff hopes. South Florida wrapped up the regular season with a 52-3 rout of Rice on Saturday.
Golesh spent two seasons at Tennessee as Josh Heupel’s offensive coordinator from 2021-22, helping rebuild the Vols’ program and one of the nation’s best offenses. He was previously on Heupel’s staff at UCF before coming to Tennessee.
