Tag: Alex Golesh

USF QB Byrum Brown follows Alex Golesh to Auburn

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Outgoing South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown decided to follow head coach Alex Golesh to Auburn, he announced Tuesday.

Brown visited the campus over the weekend before committing to the Tigers for his final season of eligibility. He headlines an exodus of nine former Bulls who joined Auburn since the transfer portal opened Friday.

A 6-foot-3 senior from Raleigh, N.C., Brown was the only FBS quarterback to pair 3,000 passing yards with 1,000 rushing yards in 2025.

In all, he passed for 3,158 yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions and rushed for 1,008 yards and 14 TDs in 12 appearances for the 9-4 Bulls, who lost to Old Dominion in the Cure Bowl after Brown opted out.

Brown was a 64.8% passer over four seasons at UCF. He totaled 7,690 passing yards and 61 passing touchdowns along with 2,265 rushing yards and 31 rushing scores in 35 games.

Golesh compiled a 23-15 record in three seasons at USF before being hired on Nov. 30 to replace Hugh Freeze at Auburn.

Brown has an immediate opportunity to start at Auburn, where quarterbacks Jackson Arnold, Ashton Daniels and Deuce Knight all have entered the transfer portal, according to 247Sports’ portal list. Daniels committed to Florida State on Tuesday.

The Tigers finished 99th in passing in the FBS this season with 197.1 yards per game.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Auburn star WR Cam Coleman intends to transfer

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Auburn star wide receiver Cam Coleman intends to enter the transfer portal despite heavy interest from the new coaching staff to retain him, according to multiple media reports.

Coleman, who just finished his second season with the Tigers, led Auburn with 708 receiving yards and had five of its 11 touchdown catches. The 6-foot-3, 201-pound sophomore has 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns on 93 catches through 23 games.

A native of Phenix City, Ala., Coleman was a coveted five-star prospect in the 2024 class, the No. 3 overall prospect and No. 2 receiver in the class according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

Heading into his final required season in college football, he instantly becomes 247Sports’ top-ranked transfer in the 2026 portal class.

If he’s unable to retain any of them, new Auburn coach Alex Golesh will be losing five of the six receiving leaders off the 2025 Auburn roster entering his first season. Malcolm Simmons, Perry Thompson and Horatio Fields announced their intentions to transfer and tight end Brandon Frazier is out of eligibility.

–Field Level Media

Auburn hires USF’s Alex Golesh as head coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Auburn named South Florida’s Alex Golesh as the program’s new head coach on Sunday.

Golesh, who was the Bulls’ head coach, accepted a six-year contract with the Tigers, per ESPN.

He effectively will take the place of Hugh Freeze, who was fired on Nov. 2. Golesh will return to the Southeastern Conference, where he was Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

“I want to thank President (Christopher B.) Roberts and (athletic director) 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, 41, has a 9-3 record this season and 23-15 mark overall during his three campaigns at USF. He has guided the Bulls to bowl wins in each of his previous two seasons.

Prior to his arrival in South Florida, the Bulls limped to a 1-11 record in 2022.

“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.”

Defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin served as an interim head coach for Auburn (5-7, 1-7 SEC), which lost for the seventh time in nine games on Saturday with a 27-20 setback to No. 10 Alabama in the Iron Bowl.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Arkansas close to hiring USF’s Alex Golesh as head coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Arkansas is finalizing negotiations to hire South Florida’s Alex Golesh as its next head coach, multiple media outlets reported on Wednesday.

Golesh, 41, would return to the Southeastern Conference after serving as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

The Razorbacks are looking to replace Sam Pittman, who was fired on Sept. 28 — one day after the team dropped a 56-13 decision at home to Notre Dame. Bobby Petrino has served as the interim head coach since Pittman’s departure.

While USF and Arkansas have yet to confirm the reports, Petrino took to social media to issue a “thank you” note.

Golesh sports an 8-3 record this season and 22-15 mark overall during his three campaigns at USF. He has guided the Bulls to bowl wins in each of his previous two seasons.

Prior to his arrival in South Florida, the Bulls limped to a 1-11 record in 2022.

–Field Level Media

Tennessee Offensive Coordinator Alex Golesh calls during fall practice at Haslam Field in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Kns Tennessee Fall Practice

USF hires Tennessee OC Alex Golesh as head coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

South Florida officially named Alex Golesh as the sixth head coach in program history on Sunday.

He replaces Jeff Scott, who was fired in November after a 1-8 start.

Special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato closed out the season as interim coach and the Bulls finished 1-11 overall, 0-8 in the American Athletic Conference.

“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Golesh as the new leader of our program,” USF athletic director Michael Kelly said. “He is a dynamic coach and recruiter who is relentless in pursuit of excellence, as evidenced by his outstanding track record of elevating numerous programs. He also happens to be one of the most creative and successful offensive minds in college football.”

Golesh, 38, is a finalist for the 2022 Broyles Award as the nation’s best assistant coach for his work this season as the offensive coordinator at Tennessee. His Volunteers lead the nation in total offense (538.1 yards per game) and scoring (47.3 points per game).

Golesh has prior experience coaching in Florida, working as the co-offensive coordinator at UCF in 2020 before joining the staff at Tennessee in 2021.

“I’m excited to be back in the state of Florida and work with the great high school coaches in this state,” Golesh said. “This program will have an identity both offensively and defensively, and with special teams.

“We will be the most aggressive team in the country, both on the field and on the recruiting trail.”

His coaching history also includes stops at Iowa State, Illinois and Toledo. This is Golesh’s first head coaching job.

He inherits a program in Tampa, Fla., that has fallen on hard times, going 4-26 in two-plus seasons under Scott.

The Bulls posted back-to-back seasons with double-digit wins in 2016 and 2017 under coaches Willie Taggart and Charlie Strong, respectively.

–Field Level Media

Tennessee Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends coach Alex Golesh runs on the field before the Tennessee football season opener game against Ball State in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. Kns Utvbs0901

Reports: USF set to hire Tennessee OC Alex Golesh

Posted on | by Field Level Media

South Florida is set to make Tennessee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh its new head coach, multiple outlets reported Saturday night.

Golesh, 38, would replace Jeff Scott, who was fired in November after a 1-8 start. Special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato finished out the season as interim head coach. The Bulls finished 1-11.

The Volunteers led the nation in total offense and scoring offense under Golesh this past season. Golesh is also a Broyles Award finalist for best assistant coach.

–Field Level Media