Alex Golesh Signs Auburn HC Contract, What's Next for Tigers and USF?

Auburn announced Sunday it's hiring South Florida's Alex Golesh to be its next head coach.

Pete Thamel of ESPN reported the two sides have agreed to a six-year contract.

"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 guided the Bulls to a 9-3 record in 2025 and they've gone 23-15 in his three seasons.

USF athletics CEO Rob Higgins addressed his departure on social media:

"Coach Golesh just informed our team that he has accepted the head coaching position at Auburn. Let me be the first to say we are truly excited for Alex, Alexis & their kids! We love Coach Golesh and are beyond grateful for what he has done for our program. Rest assured, we did everything within reason over the last few months to try and keep them here. We will be cheering them on always! Here's the best part…we're not only fired up for the Golesh's, we are also really fired up for USF! It's okay for both to be true! Bulls Nation, our next head coach will build upon what Coach Golesh and his staff have helped start. We will all help take our USF Football program to championship heights as quickly as possible together! The search for our next leader is already underway. This is the best college football coaching job in the country! We thankfully don't have to get ready right now, because we have always stayed ready for every scenario including this one. This new chapter will be our best chapter. All Gas. No Brakes!!!! LFGB!"

Defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin replaced Hugh Freeze on an interim basis for Auburn to finish out this year. CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz and John Talty reported Saturday that Durkin had "become even more of a contender to be Auburn's next head coach."

A 27-20 loss to Alabama in the Iron Bowl may have eliminated that idea for good.

All things considered, Golesh is a sensible choice. He's a young coach who was rising up the ranks, and his experience should position him nicely to work at a high-level program in the Southeast. Prior to coaching South Florida, the 41-year-old worked at Ohio State, Oklahoma State, UCF and Tennessee among other stops.

Coaching hires are notoriously difficult to forecast. Maybe Golesh is a complete flop and Auburn is staring at a massive buyout in three or four years. At the very least, he checks the necessary boxes.

South Florida will now head into bowl season in need in a new coach.

The Bulls were in the College Football Playoff conversation and climbed as high as 18th in the Associated Press Top 25 after a 6-1 start. Losses to Memphis and Navy ended those CFP hopes and cost USF a spot in the American conference championship.

Charlie Strong was fired after three seasons at USF, and Jeff Scott got a pink slip midway through his third year at the helm. Still, being in such a fertile recruiting region should help the Bulls attract candidates. Golesh parlaying his time in Tampa into the Auburn job will be another signal to coaches with big aspirations as well.