Mike Ward might not be a household name for Auburn fans, but his fingerprints are all over the Tigers’ new coaching staff. A longtime coach in the Midwest, Ward played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of head coach Alex Golesh and four of his assistants-mentoring them, coaching them, and in some cases, helping launch their careers.
Golesh and Ward go way back. They spent three seasons together at Toledo and another four at Illinois, forming a bond rooted in shared philosophy and relentless work ethic. That connection helped lay the foundation for what Golesh is now building at Auburn.
And Ward doesn’t hold back when it comes to praising his former colleague.
“I have never been around a harder worker, a more detail-oriented, organized person in all my life,” Ward said of Golesh. “Whether it’s recruiting, coaching, or just having the foresight to know what needs to get done-he’s second to none. That’s why he is where he is.”
Ward’s influence doesn’t stop with Golesh. Defensive coordinator D.J.
Durkin played for Ward at Bowling Green and later joined him on staff at Toledo. Tim Banks, Auburn’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach, got his start under Ward as a graduate assistant before moving up the ranks at Bowling Green.
Outside linebackers coach Brad Wilson worked with Ward as a GA for one season, and defensive line coach Vontrell King-Williams was recruited by Ward during his time at Illinois.
The relationships run deep, and Ward speaks about these coaches like a proud mentor watching his former players take the field.
On Durkin: “I have never met a more intense person-whether he was a player, a grad assistant, or a coach. One person comes close, and that’s Urban Meyer.”
On Banks: “I’ve never been around a better teacher of football. That combination of DJ and Tim Banks is going to be special at Auburn.”
On Wilson: “Brad Wilson is Tim Banks Jr. He’s the same way-an excellent teacher of the game, the way he explains things, the way he breaks it all down. Those two guys are phenomenal.”
And on King-Williams: “His people skills are unbelievable. He has a gift. His relationship-building and teaching skills are phenomenal.”
These aren’t just compliments-they’re insights into the DNA of Auburn’s new staff. Ward has seen these coaches up close, coached alongside them, and helped mold their approach to the game. His words offer a glimpse of what Auburn fans can expect: a staff that teaches with clarity, coaches with intensity, and builds relationships that last.
These days, Ward is back in Ohio, teaching elementary school P.E. and serving as defensive coordinator at Perrysburg High School. He was named the top assistant coach in the state two years ago, and while he’s had chances to return to the college game, he’s staying put.
“It’s still coaching and teaching,” Ward said. “You don’t look back.
You just keep on going. Coaching at the high school level is just as rewarding.
You win a game, it’s the greatest feeling. You lose, it’s like getting kicked in the gut.”
That passion hasn’t faded. If anything, it’s evolved. For Ward, coaching has always been about impact-whether it’s a college athlete on the rise or a high school kid learning the fundamentals.
“I love what I’m doing,” he said. “It’s influencing, impacting, and motivating today’s youth. That’s what I’ve always loved about coaching.”
Ward still plans to visit Auburn this spring, and he’ll be watching closely as his former protégés take the field in their first season together on the Plains.
“Alex has put together a phenomenal staff,” Ward said. “I don’t know anything about the players, but I do know this: He’s going to work his butt off recruiting, and so is his staff.
It’s going to be high-quality guys who play hard. On defense, they’re going to play like their hair is on fire.”
That kind of intensity, that kind of detail-it’s not just talk. It’s the product of years of coaching, learning, and building something bigger than football.
Auburn’s new staff didn’t come together by accident. It was forged through shared experiences, mutual respect, and a deep-rooted belief in doing things the right way.
And if Mike Ward’s read on his former assistants is any indication, Auburn’s defense is about to bring the heat.