Golesh jumps from USF to Auburn. Bulls begin search for a new football coach
By Rick Mayer
November 30, 2025 at 11:58 AM EST
Alex Golesh said he got the Auburn offer at 1 a.m. Sunday, and signed it immediately. Assistant Kevin Patrick will be USF's interim coach for the bowl and Athletics CEO Rob Higgins says a coaching search is underway.
As expected, Coach Alex Golesh is leaving South Florida after three years and moving up to the Southeastern Conference.
The unexpected? He’s accepted the opening at Auburn and not Arkansas.
Golesh was hired as the Tigers' 33rd head coach on Sunday morning and met with his new team later in the day. He told the players he received the offer about 1 a.m. Sunday, according to a video released by Auburn.
“The second they sent it, I signed that thing on the dotted line because this is a dream for me, my family, for everyone involved in the organization I'm coming from," he said.
https://x.com/CoachGolesh/status/1995305361650463093
He leaves USF in far better shape than when he arrived in 2023. Prior to his arrival in Tampa, the Bulls had won just four games over the prior three seasons. Over his tenure, USF went 23-15, with two bowl victories. The Bulls just finished the regular season 9-3 (6-2 in the American Conference) with a third bowl bid coming.
"The future is undoubtedly bright for South Florida Football, and we're proud to have helped build something special," Golesh said in a social media statement thanking the USF community.
Kevin Patrick, the Bulls' defensive line coach, was named interim coach for the bowl game.
In a social media post, USF Athletics CEO Rob Higgins said Golesh informed the team of his decision Sunday morning.
https://x.com/RHiggins_USF/status/1995166829422010763
"Rest assured, we did everything within reason over the last few months to try and keep them here," Higgins said about Golesh and his family. "We will be cheering them on always!"
Higgins said the search for a new coach was underway.
"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!" he wrote. "... 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."
Golesh opted for Auburn after at least two media outlets in Arkansas reported last week that Golesh had accepted an offer to coach the Razorbacks.
On Saturday night, following the Bulls’ season-ending 52-3 win over Rice, Golesh said he told his players the reports were not true, although Higgins acknowledged the coach had been offered “outside opportunities.”
https://twitter.com/AuburnFootball/status/1995314938521522252
"I told our team ... when all that stuff came out, that all I ask is for an opportunity to finish the season the right way, finish the season in a first-class manner ... and then give me the time to sit down with my family and figure this whole thing out.”
It didn't take long. The Bulls-Owls game ended at 10:05 p.m. Three hours later - or about 90 minutes after Auburn's 27-20 loss to rival Alabama in the annual Iron Bowl - Athletic Director John Cohan called Golesh with a six-year contract offer.
Golesh replaces Hugh Freeze, who was fired in early November. He becomes Auburn’s fourth coach in seven seasons. The Tigers fired Gus Malzahn in 2020, Brysan Harsin in 2022 and Freeze. Together, the school will end up paying $52.5 million in buyout fees.
Freeze, who lost 12 of his last 15 SEC games, is still owed $15.8 million, with no mitigation, from a six-year, $39 million deal he signed to replace Harsin in 2022. Freeze got the boot at 15-19 overall and 6-16 in the conference.
ALSO READ: USF coach Golesh offered 'outside opportunities.' Is he headed to Arkansas?
Golesh and his family arrived at Auburn by private plane Sunday afternoon, and he spoke with the team a short while later.
"I got done playing last night the same time you guys did," he told the team, adding he had not slept in two days. "You're going to get 100 percent of me right here, right now to get this thing where you guys want it to be, where I want it to be, where the Auburn family wants it to be."
An introduction has been scheduled for Monday to introduce Golesh and his family, who will make their first "Tiger Walk" followed by a pep rally with Auburn marching band, cheerleaders and Aubie the mascot.
In a statement, Cohen said that in conversations with Golesh, the coach showed "the determination and edge that this program demands."
“He has produced wins and record-setting results throughout his entire career, including over the last three seasons at USF,” Cohen said. “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."
The unexpected? He’s accepted the opening at Auburn and not Arkansas.
Golesh was hired as the Tigers' 33rd head coach on Sunday morning and met with his new team later in the day. He told the players he received the offer about 1 a.m. Sunday, according to a video released by Auburn.
“The second they sent it, I signed that thing on the dotted line because this is a dream for me, my family, for everyone involved in the organization I'm coming from," he said.
https://x.com/CoachGolesh/status/1995305361650463093
He leaves USF in far better shape than when he arrived in 2023. Prior to his arrival in Tampa, the Bulls had won just four games over the prior three seasons. Over his tenure, USF went 23-15, with two bowl victories. The Bulls just finished the regular season 9-3 (6-2 in the American Conference) with a third bowl bid coming.
"The future is undoubtedly bright for South Florida Football, and we're proud to have helped build something special," Golesh said in a social media statement thanking the USF community.
Kevin Patrick, the Bulls' defensive line coach, was named interim coach for the bowl game.
In a social media post, USF Athletics CEO Rob Higgins said Golesh informed the team of his decision Sunday morning.
https://x.com/RHiggins_USF/status/1995166829422010763
"Rest assured, we did everything within reason over the last few months to try and keep them here," Higgins said about Golesh and his family. "We will be cheering them on always!"
Higgins said the search for a new coach was underway.
"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!" he wrote. "... 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."
Golesh opted for Auburn after at least two media outlets in Arkansas reported last week that Golesh had accepted an offer to coach the Razorbacks.
On Saturday night, following the Bulls’ season-ending 52-3 win over Rice, Golesh said he told his players the reports were not true, although Higgins acknowledged the coach had been offered “outside opportunities.”
https://twitter.com/AuburnFootball/status/1995314938521522252
"I told our team ... when all that stuff came out, that all I ask is for an opportunity to finish the season the right way, finish the season in a first-class manner ... and then give me the time to sit down with my family and figure this whole thing out.”
It didn't take long. The Bulls-Owls game ended at 10:05 p.m. Three hours later - or about 90 minutes after Auburn's 27-20 loss to rival Alabama in the annual Iron Bowl - Athletic Director John Cohan called Golesh with a six-year contract offer.
Golesh replaces Hugh Freeze, who was fired in early November. He becomes Auburn’s fourth coach in seven seasons. The Tigers fired Gus Malzahn in 2020, Brysan Harsin in 2022 and Freeze. Together, the school will end up paying $52.5 million in buyout fees.
Freeze, who lost 12 of his last 15 SEC games, is still owed $15.8 million, with no mitigation, from a six-year, $39 million deal he signed to replace Harsin in 2022. Freeze got the boot at 15-19 overall and 6-16 in the conference.
ALSO READ: USF coach Golesh offered 'outside opportunities.' Is he headed to Arkansas?
Golesh and his family arrived at Auburn by private plane Sunday afternoon, and he spoke with the team a short while later.
"I got done playing last night the same time you guys did," he told the team, adding he had not slept in two days. "You're going to get 100 percent of me right here, right now to get this thing where you guys want it to be, where I want it to be, where the Auburn family wants it to be."
An introduction has been scheduled for Monday to introduce Golesh and his family, who will make their first "Tiger Walk" followed by a pep rally with Auburn marching band, cheerleaders and Aubie the mascot.
In a statement, Cohen said that in conversations with Golesh, the coach showed "the determination and edge that this program demands."
“He has produced wins and record-setting results throughout his entire career, including over the last three seasons at USF,” Cohen said. “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."