The Auburn Tigers are locking in part of their future-and it starts with a familiar face. Defensive coordinator and interim head coach DJ Durkin isn’t going anywhere. New head coach Alex Golesh has made it official: Durkin will stay on as part of his inaugural staff.
For Golesh, the decision wasn’t just about continuity-it was personal. “Choosing to keep DJ on our staff was an easy call,” Golesh said.
“Our relationship goes back more than 20 years to our roots in Ohio. We’ve worked with some of the same men, and we’ve competed against each other in this great league.”
That shared history matters, especially in the SEC, where relationships and trust can be the difference between a defense that bends and one that breaks opponents. Golesh isn’t just bringing in someone he knows-he’s keeping a proven defensive mind who already knows the players, the campus, and the challenges of coaching on The Plains.
“We are fortunate to retain one of the top defensive minds in college football here at Auburn,” Golesh said. “He’s an elite leader, an incredible father and husband, and will be a phenomenal leader on the defensive side of the ball.
We have great respect for each other. Time to go to work.”
Durkin, who took over as Auburn’s defensive coordinator in 2024, is heading into his third season with the program. And after stepping in as interim head coach following Hugh Freeze’s midseason dismissal, Durkin helped steady the ship. The Tigers may have gone just 1-2 under his leadership, but the shift in energy and execution was clear.
Now, with a chance to build on that progress, Durkin is all-in.
“I’m excited about what [Golesh] is going to bring to Auburn and grateful for the chance to work alongside him,” Durkin said. “I love this group of players, and it mattered to me to keep pushing forward with what they have already started.”
It’s a significant move for a program that’s been searching for stability. Auburn’s 2025 campaign started with promise-an undefeated 3-0 run and a return to the top 25-but quickly unraveled. The Tigers dropped five of their next six games, and the slide ultimately cost Freeze his job midway through his third season.
Durkin stepped in, and Derrick Nix took over offensive play-calling duties. While the final record under their interim leadership was 1-2, the team showed signs of life.
The defense played with more discipline, and the offense looked more cohesive. It wasn’t a full turnaround, but it was a glimpse of what could be.
Now, with Golesh stepping in after three impressive seasons at USF, Auburn is betting on momentum. Golesh took a 1-11 Bulls team and turned them into bowl winners in Year 1.
Then he did it again. And in Year 3, USF jumped to 9-3, notching two ranked wins-including a road upset of the Florida Gators.
That kind of turnaround doesn’t happen by accident. It takes vision, buy-in, and the right people in place. For Golesh, that starts with Durkin.
Auburn’s defense will have a familiar voice leading the charge, but the energy around the program feels new. With Golesh’s offensive mind and Durkin’s defensive leadership, the Tigers are hoping to finally find the balance they’ve been missing. The rebuild is on-and it’s already got a foundation in place.