HotFootballTake: Alex Golesh Arrives on the Plains: Auburn’s New Head Coach Signals a Bold Era
Golesh’s fiery introduction highlights toughness, process, and respect for tradition as Auburn resets under its fourth coach in seven years
Alex Golesh was formally introduced as the 33rd head football coach in Auburn history, and if the nearly hour-long press conference made anything clear, it’s that Auburn has found a man ready to match the edge and intensity the SEC demands. Golesh spoke with conviction about what it means to wear the AU logo, invoking the Auburn Creed and declaring his belief in hard work, toughness, and a process-driven philosophy. “I believe in Auburn, and love it,” he said with visible emotion.
Athletic Director John Cohen opened the ceremony by emphasizing the core traits Auburn prioritized during the search: competitive edge, a blue-collar work ethic, intelligence, and a commitment to player development. He credited former Trustee Quentin Riggins and the Auburn administration for their support and described Golesh as a perfect fit for Auburn’s culture and future.
Cohen outlined Golesh’s remarkable turnaround at USF, where he inherited a 1-11 program and turned in 23 wins over three seasons, capped by a 9-win 2025 campaign. Cohen pointed to Golesh’s history of success at Tennessee—where his offense led the nation in scoring and total yards—as proof of his ability to thrive in the SEC. He also praised Golesh’s immigrant background and work ethic, saying, “His resume and life experience line up perfectly with the Auburn Creed.”
Golesh returned the praise, thanking Cohen, President Chris Roberts, the Board of Trustees, and the Auburn community for their faith in him. He also showed a personal side, choking up as he spoke about his wife Alexis and their two children, Barrett and Corbin, saying, “I don’t know if this community is ready for Barrett Golesh, but it’ll be a hell of a ride.”
What came next was a clear and detailed blueprint of the program he intends to build. Golesh promised a physical and aggressive brand of football—a team that will run the ball, play violent defense, and play with purpose and speed across all three phases. He emphasized the need to build a player-driven culture and outlined a daily discipline-focused approach that centers on consistency, development, and mindset.
“We’re going to be the most violent freaking team on the football field every single Saturday,” he said. “We’re going to outwork, outthink, and outprocess people across the country.”
Golesh said all the right things: that everything will start with Auburn’s current players; that recruiting the 250-mile radius around campus will be an obsession; and that Auburn will have the toughest, grittiest team in the nation. He promised an elite offensive staff, confirmed that the offensive coordinator will call plays, and expressed a deep desire to build systems tailored to quarterback strengths.
When asked about DJ Durkin, Golesh was measured but optimistic, stating that the defensive staff plans were still in progress but implying that retaining Durkin remains a priority.
He also welcomed Kodi Burns back to Auburn, naming him Associate Head Coach and praising his loyalty, energy, and connection to the school.
One of the press conference’s most striking moments came when Golesh reflected on his family’s journey from Moscow to the United States. He said the sacrifices his parents made taught him the value of love, sacrifice, and the simple truth that you can still outwork people in this country. That mentality, he says, defines his approach to coaching and life.
He finished by calling this job a dream come true. “I’m beyond grateful. For you choosing me, John. I’m gonna pay it back tenfold. I will give this fan base, the alumni base, the former players, and everybody involved with this university every single bit of everything I got.”
Final Thought:
I didn’t like this hire at first. I was skeptical. But after watching that press conference, I’m all in. Golesh said the things I’ve been waiting to hear for years: that we’ll build around our quarterbacks, that we’ll run the damn ball, that our team will hit people in the mouth, and that this is about Auburn, not about him. He even quoted the Creed. I don’t need a savior. I need a builder. And that’s who we hired.
This is the guy. He fits us. Auburn football just found its identity again.