Alex Golesh becomes Auburn’s 33rd head football coach

AUBURN, Ala. (WSFA) - The Alex Golesh era has officially begun on the Plains with the new head football coach promising excitement and winning seasons.

“We’re going to recruit this 250 mile radius harder than anyone in the country,” Golesh says, and he added, “We’re going to run the fricken ball.”

Golesh and his family made their first Tiger Walk down Donahue Drive Monday morning where they were welcomed to town with a pep rally including the Auburn University Marching Band, cheerleaders, and Aubie.

After brief remarks to the crowd cheering him on outside Jordan Hare Stadium, Golesh was introduced to the media inside by Auburn Athletic Director John Cohen.

Golesh is in the process of establishing his staff, including a name that should be familiar to the Auburn fanbase.

Asked if he’s going to keep DJ Dirkin, who coached the team for three games as interim head coach following the termination of Hugh Freeze, Golesh responded that he’s working through it.

A copy of Golesh’s compensation terms shows an annualized salary starting at $6.75 million for the first year, then going up by $250,000 each Jan. 1, including this upcoming January, through 2031.

The contract also includes millions of dollars in performance incentives for winning more than eight regular season games, and millions more for playoff games, championships, final rankings, and Coach of the Year titles.

A contract buyout number was not available.

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