South Florida’s Alex Golesh named Auburn football head coach

AUBURN, Ala. (WSFA) - Widely regarded as one of college football’s top offensive minds, South Florida’s Alex Golesh has been named Auburn football’s new head coach, Athletic Director John Cohen announced Sunday.

As the program’s 33rd head coach, Golesh will succeed Hugh Freeze on the Plains after the third-year coach was fired from the program on Nov. 2.

Golesh oversaw a rapid transformation of the South Florida program after arriving in 2023. He lead the Bulls to 23 wins over the last three seasons including a 9-3 mark in 2025. Prior to his arrival in Tampa, the Bulls had won only four games in the last three seasons.

His offenses have consistently been among the nation’s most productive and highest scoring, averaging more than 35 points per game and 450 yards per game during his time with the Bulls.

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.

“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.”

Golesh arrives at the tail end of Auburn’s fifth straight losing season.

The Tigers finished the 2025 season in the Iron Bowl with a 27-20 loss to Alabama.

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