If you’ve been away from the Plains for a minute, things look a little different. Actually, they look a lot different. The revolving door at the athletic complex finally spun again, and as we head into 2026, there is a new face wearing the orange and blue headset.
Alex Golesh is the current head football coach at Auburn.
He isn't just a "new guy" either. He’s the man tasked with cleaning up the mess left behind after the Hugh Freeze era hit a wall and eventually shattered in late 2025. Honestly, the way it all went down was kind of a whirlwind, even for a program that is basically the king of college football drama.
The Hugh Freeze Exit: Why the Change Happened
You can't talk about who the coach is now without acknowledging why the last one is gone. It felt like Hugh Freeze was supposed to be the "adult in the room" who would fix the recruiting trail and get Auburn back to the SEC title game. For a second, it looked like it might work. He landed five-star talents like Cam Coleman and looked to be building a powerhouse 2025 and 2026 recruiting class.
But the on-field product? That was a different story.
The breaking point was a miserable 10-3 loss to Kentucky in late 2024. People were fed up. Reports started swirling about a total disconnect between the staff and the administration. By November 2025, Auburn pulled the plug. Freeze left with a 15-19 record and a massive $15.8 million buyout. There was even some weird drama about him spending a bit too much time on the golf course while the team was struggling.
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Enter Alex Golesh: The New Vision for 2026
So, who is the guy running the show now? Alex Golesh came over from South Florida (USF) where he’d been doing some pretty incredible things with an offense that was basically a blur on the field.
If you like points, you’re going to like Golesh. He runs a version of the "veer and shoot"—the same high-octane, ultra-fast system he helped perfect as the offensive coordinator at Tennessee before taking the USF job. It’s designed to tire out defenses and create massive vertical lanes for receivers.
The Resume
- Previous Stop: Head Coach at USF (2023–2025)
- The Big Break: Offensive Coordinator at Tennessee (2021–2022)
- Reputation: Elite scouter and a guy who isn't afraid to go young at quarterback.
Golesh didn't waste any time. As soon as he arrived on the Plains in December 2025, he started flipping recruits. He even managed to bring a few of his best guys from Florida with him. It was a chaotic December, but by the time the early signing period ended, Auburn had jumped from the 90s in recruiting rankings up to the top 35. Not bad for a guy who had about three weeks to recruit.
Who is on the Auburn Coaching Staff in 2026?
Golesh didn't just come alone. He brought a mix of his trusted lieutenants and some familiar SEC faces to help navigate the gauntlet that is the Western Division.
Joel Gordon is the new Offensive Coordinator. He’s been Golesh’s right-hand man for years and knows the system inside out. On the other side of the ball, Golesh made a veteran move by retaining DJ Durkin as the Defensive Coordinator. Keeping Durkin provided some much-needed stability for a defensive unit that was actually one of the few bright spots during the previous season.
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Here is a look at the key names you'll see on the sidelines this year:
- Head Coach: Alex Golesh
- Offensive Coordinator: Joel Gordon
- Defensive Coordinator: DJ Durkin
- Wide Receivers: Kodi Burns (The Auburn legend is back again!)
- General Manager: Andrew Warsaw
Basically, Golesh is trying to blend "new age" offense with "old school" SEC recruiting. It’s a gamble, but at Auburn, what isn't?
The 2026 Quarterback Battle
The biggest question every fan is asking the new coach is: Who’s taking the first snap?
Golesh has a history of making quarterbacks look like superstars. At USF, he had Byrum Brown putting up video game numbers. Interestingly, Brown entered the portal and followed Golesh to Auburn, which immediately made the QB room very interesting.
You’ve got the veteran Brown, but you’ve also got young guns like Deuce Knight and Rhys Brush. Golesh hasn't named a starter yet, but most insiders expect the competition to go deep into fall camp. He wants someone who can make decisions in about 1.5 seconds. If you can’t process the field that fast, you won’t play in this offense.
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What to Expect This Season
Don’t expect a national championship in Year 1. Let’s be real.
The SEC is a meat grinder. However, the energy around the program is higher than it’s been in years. Fans are calling it "Launch 2026." The goal is simple: get back to a bowl game, fix the culture, and stop losing games to teams they should beat by three touchdowns.
Golesh has been very vocal about "owning the state" in recruiting. He knows he can't let Alabama and Georgia just walk in and take whoever they want. It’s a tall order, but the guy is a workaholic.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to keep up with how the new era is going, here is what you should do:
- Watch the A-Day Game: Scheduled for mid-April 2026. This will be the first time anyone sees the Golesh offense in person.
- Follow the Portal: Golesh is a "portal king." Keep an eye on the spring transfer window; he’s likely looking for more offensive line depth.
- Check the Schedule: Auburn has a brutal stretch in October. That will be the true litmus test for whether Golesh has the roster ready for SEC play.
The Hugh Freeze era is officially in the rearview mirror. Whether Alex Golesh is the long-term answer remains to be seen, but for now, the Plains have a new architect, and he's building something fast. Literally.