Auburn Hires USF’s Alex Golesh as New Head Football Coach

The 33rd head coach in program history, Golesh comes to The Plains following three highly successful seasons leading the South Florida program from 2023-25.

Golesh engineered a rapid rebuild of the USF program, and under his leadership the Bulls recorded 23 wins over the last three seasons including a 9-3 mark in 2025. Prior to Golesh’s arrival in Tampa, the Bulls had won just four games over the prior three seasons.

“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.”

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.

This year, the USF offense ranks No. 2 nationally in total offense (501.7), No. 5 in scoring (43.0) and has posted 500-plus yards in eight of its last nine regular season games. South Florida has recorded the top two passing seasons in program history with Golesh at the helm in 2023 and 2025, while quarterback Byrum Brown became just the 12th 3,000-yard passer/1,000-yard rusher in FBS history this year.

The Bulls rank in the top 25 of 20 national statistical categories, including 11 offensive, seven defensive and two special teams statistics.

“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’s leadership also included a boost to USF’s recruiting with the top-rated signing classes in the American Athletic Conference in both 2024 and 2025.

In 2025, 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.”

South Florida closed the 2024 season with victories in five of its final seven games while leading the nation in scoring in November despite losing its starting quarterback early in the year.

In his first season in 2023, Golesh reshaped the USF offense with blistering tempo and high-efficiency offensive production. His first South Florida team engineered the largest single-season turnaround in school history and the second largest in FBS in 2023, jumping from 1–11 to 7–6 and producing a 45-0 bowl win over Syracuse, the largest shutout victory in NCAA bowl history.