Auburn’s New Era Under Alex Golesh: Building a Staff on Familiarity, Trust, and Experience
We won’t know for a while how the Alex Golesh era will ultimately pan out at Auburn, but the early blueprint he’s laying down is giving us a pretty clear picture of his priorities. As he wraps up his first staff on the Plains, one thing is standing out: Golesh is surrounding himself with coaches he knows, trusts, or who bring serious experience to the table. And in the high-stakes world of SEC football, that’s a smart place to start.
Let’s break this down. When you're building a staff - especially in the pressure cooker that is Auburn football - you need people who can do the job and who you can trust to do it without needing to micromanage every detail.
Golesh seems to get that. He’s leaning into relationships he’s built over the years, particularly with a trio of assistants coming with him from South Florida.
That continuity matters. These are coaches who’ve already worked alongside Golesh, understand his system, and know how to execute it.
Then there's Larry Porter - a seasoned veteran who’s seen it all in different coaching environments. He brings a wealth of knowledge and stability, which is invaluable when you’re trying to establish a new culture. As for the tight ends coach, odds are Golesh brings in someone he’s familiar with, or at the very least, someone with a proven track record who can hit the ground running.
On the defensive side, DJ Durkin is back, and that’s a significant piece of the puzzle. He’s earned the right to run his defense the way he sees fit, and he’s shown he can do it at a high level.
He’s not just a placeholder - he’s a coach with a clear identity and a system that can work in the SEC. Vontrell King-Williams is another key returner who’s earned respect within the program.
His presence adds some important continuity on the defensive side.
Golesh is also adding two former SEC coordinators to the defensive staff - a move that shouldn’t be overlooked. Those guys bring real-time, in-game adjustment experience, and that’s the kind of edge you need when you’re matching wits with the best offensive minds in college football every Saturday.
And keep an eye on Demarcus Van Dyke. Word around the coaching circles is that he’s a rising star - someone with the tools to be a coordinator or even a head coach down the line.
That’s the kind of upside you want on your staff.
Bottom line: this staff looks like it’s built to work together. And in a conference where chemistry and cohesion can be the difference between 6-6 and 10-2, that’s a promising sign for Golesh’s first year.
Auburn Hoops: Growing Pains, But Plenty of Potential
Switching gears to the hardwood, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster for Steven Pearl’s squad so far - but honestly, that’s not unexpected. This is a completely different team than we’ve seen in recent years.
No Johni Broome. No Dylan Cardwell.
A lot of new faces, a different identity, and naturally, some growing pains.
One of the bright spots has been KeShawn Murphy. At 10.1 points and 5.7 boards per game, he’s been solid - and there’s reason to believe he’s just scratching the surface.
He’s got the tools to be a matchup problem, especially if he continues to stretch the floor (he’s 6-for-14 from deep so far). His skill set leans more toward a stretch-four than a traditional big, and that versatility is going to be key as Auburn heads into SEC play.
Another pair to watch: Sebastian Williams-Adams and Filip Jovic. Between them, they’re averaging 14 points and just under 8 rebounds a night in a combined 43 minutes.
That’s solid production, especially considering their roles. Williams-Adams, in particular, is doing a little bit of everything.
He’s got a team-best 27-to-12 assist-to-turnover ratio and is tied for second in steals with 15. He’s clearly a guy you want on the floor - but he’s got to figure things out at the free throw line, where he’s hitting just 48 percent.
The touch is there. Now it’s about confidence.
But if Auburn wants to make a real push this season, it’s going to come down to its two stars: Keyshawn Hall and Tahaad Pettiford. They’re the engines of this team - the ball is in their hands a lot.
The talent is obvious, but the decision-making has to catch up. So far, they’ve combined for 50 assists and 49 turnovers - that’s too close for comfort.
And in Auburn’s three losses? Just 4 assists to 11 turnovers between them.
That’s the stat that jumps off the page.
For this team to hit its stride, Hall and Pettiford have to take better care of the ball and trust their teammates more. When they’re moving the ball and making smart decisions, this offense can be dynamic. When they’re forcing things, it grinds to a halt.
There’s still time for this group to find its rhythm. The pieces are there. It’s just going to take some consistency - and a little patience - to pull it all together.