Auburn statement on hiring Alex Golesh as next head football coach
South Florida head coach Alex Golesh points to fans as he leaves the field as he celebrates defeating Florida in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Auburn University has released a statement on its hiring of South Florida’s Alex Golesh as its next head football coach.
Golesh becomes the 33rd head coach in Auburn history, coming to The Plains following three seasons leading South Florida from 2023-25. The Bulls had 23 wins over his three seasons, including going 9-3 in this year’s regular season. Before he arrived, South Florida had won only four games in three seasons.
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“We are thrilled to announce Alex Golesh as the 33rd head coach of Auburn Football,” Auburn Athletics Director John 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.”
“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.”
This season, USF returned to the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2018 and recorded consecutive victories over ranked opponents for the first time in program history after season opening victories over Boise State and Florida.
He is also the first coach to lead USF to bowl eligibility in his first three seasons, including postseason victories in both 2023 and 2024.
“Coach Golesh has experienced tremendous success at every step, rising through the ranks from an assistant coach to coordinator and now as a head coach,” Auburn President Christopher B. Roberts said. “He is an outstanding fit for Auburn as a proven program builder with an elite offensive mind. We are excited to welcome Alex and his family to the Auburn Family.”
Golesh began his coaching career as a student assistant at Ohio State from 2004-05, where he worked with the defensive staff during the Buckeyes’ 2005 Big Ten championship and Fiesta Bowl win. He later held defensive graduate assistant roles at Northern Illinois (2006-07) and Oklahoma State (2008).
Golesh was born in Moscow, Russia, and raised in Brooklyn and Dublin, Ohio. He earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio State in 2006. He and his wife, Alexis, have two children — daughter Corbin and son Barrett.
— from Auburn University
