AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn University announced Sunday that Alex Golesh has been hired as the 33rd head coach of the football program. Golesh comes to Auburn after three seasons at South Florida, where he led the Bulls to 23 wins from 2023–25.

Golesh took over a USF program that had won just four games in the three seasons prior to his arrival. Under his leadership, the Bulls posted a 9–3 record in 2025 and returned to the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2018. His teams also achieved bowl eligibility in each of his three seasons, winning postseason games in 2023 and 2024.

“We are thrilled to announce Alex Golesh as the 33rd head coach of Auburn Football,” Athletics Director John Cohen said in a statement. “He has produced wins and record-setting results throughout his career I was also struck by his coaching experience on both sides of the ball.”

USF’s offense ranked among the most productive in the country throughout Golesh’s tenure, averaging more than 35 points and 450 yards per game. This season, the Bulls ranked No. 2 nationally in total offense and No. 5 in scoring, and recorded eight 500-yard games over their last nine regular-season contests. Quarterback Byrum Brown became the 12th player in FBS history to reach both 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season.

In addition to offensive production, USF appeared in the top 25 of 20 national statistical categories across offense, defense and special teams. Golesh also oversaw an uptick in recruiting, with the Bulls signing the American Athletic Conference’s top-rated classes in both 2024 and 2025.

“I want to thank President Roberts and John Cohen for the opportunity,” Golesh said. “Auburn Football is one of the proudest, most tradition-rich programs in college football. This will be a player-driven program, and no one will outwork our staff.”

Before his tenure at USF, Golesh spent two seasons as offensive coordinator at Tennessee, where the Volunteers’ offense rose from 108th nationally in total offense to seventh in 2021 and first in 2022. His additional coaching experience includes positions at UCF, Iowa State, Illinois, Toledo, Oklahoma State, Northern Illinois and Ohio State.

Auburn President Christopher B. Roberts said Golesh “is an outstanding fit for Auburn as a proven program builder with an elite offensive mind.”

The 41-year-old Golesh, who was born in Russia and moved to the United State at age 7, is signing a six-year contract to replace Hugh Freeze. Freeze was fired in early November after failing to fix Auburn’s offensive issues in three seasons on the Plains. Freeze lost 12 of his last 15 Southeastern Conference games.

The Tigers owe Freeze $15.8 million, with no mitigation, from a six-year, $39 million deal he signed to replace Bryan Harsin in 2022. Freeze got the boot at 15-19 overall and 6-16 in the conference. The last five losses included more offensive woes.

Golesh becomes Auburn’s fourth football coach in seven seasons. The Tigers fired Gus Malzahn in 2020, Harsin in 2022 and now Freeze in 2025. Together, the school will end up paying $52.5 million in buyout fees.

Golesh earned his bachelor’s degree from Ohio State and began his coaching career there as a student assistant. He and his wife, Alexis, have two children.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.