Alex Golesh isn’t just building a coaching staff at Auburn - he’s building a foundation rooted in familiarity, SEC toughness, and proven results. The first-year head coach is blending trusted voices from his past with seasoned veterans of the Southeastern Conference, and if early signs are any indication, this is a group designed to hit the ground running.
Golesh’s approach is clear: surround himself with coaches who know how to win, know how to recruit, and know what it takes to thrive in the SEC. That starts with the core of his offensive staff - a group he brought with him from USF almost immediately after landing the Auburn job.
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joel Gordon, wide receivers coach Kodi Burns, offensive line coach Tyler Hudanick, and cornerbacks coach DeMarcus Van Dyke were all on board within 48 hours of Golesh’s hire. These weren’t just names on a whiteboard - these were staffers Golesh was ready to roll with, no matter which SEC program came calling.
And while Golesh’s own time in the SEC has been brief, the staff he’s assembled brings a combined 51 seasons of conference experience. That includes 15 years as coordinators - a level of leadership and game-planning pedigree that’s hard to ignore.
Retaining defensive coordinator DJ Durkin gave Golesh a strong anchor on the defensive side, and he built from there. Edge coach Coleman Hutzler and safeties coach Tim Banks both arrive with SEC coordinator experience - Hutzler at Mississippi State, Banks at Tennessee. Add in defensive line coach Vontrell King-Williams and tight ends coach Larry Scott, and you’ve got a defensive staff that knows the terrain, understands the recruiting grind, and has game-planned against some of the best offenses in college football.
But Golesh didn’t just load up on SEC résumés - he made sure this staff had Auburn DNA, too. Burns, a former Auburn wideout, returns to the Plains with deep ties to the program and a clear passion for the school.
Running backs coach Larry Porter, Durkin, and King-Williams also bring back experience coaching in orange and blue, combining for 13 years of Auburn-specific experience. That familiarity matters - not just for the players, but for the culture Golesh is trying to build.
Burns, in particular, has become a key figure in Golesh’s inner circle. Their relationship dates back to their time together at Tennessee, and when Golesh got the call to come to Auburn, Burns was right there with him. According to Golesh, Burns has always spoken about Auburn with a kind of reverence - something Golesh admits he didn’t fully understand until he arrived.
“KB’s always said, ‘It’s different,’” Golesh said last week. “And I always thought it was just him being KB, loving his alma mater.
But now that I’ve been here, met the people, talked to the players - I get it. I really do.”
On the offensive side, the chemistry between Golesh and Gordon is well-established. This is their third stop together - including time under Matt Campbell at Iowa State - and their partnership at USF produced serious results.
The Bulls finished top-35 nationally in scoring offense twice and climbed all the way to No. 2 in the country this past season. Gordon handled primary play-calling duties, but Golesh was heavily involved in the offensive structure, and that collaborative approach is expected to carry over to Auburn.
Hudanick, now serving as run-game coordinator in addition to his offensive line duties, will also have a hand in play-calling. That’s how it worked at USF - a top-down offensive system where ideas flowed freely and responsibilities were shared. It’s modern, it’s flexible, and it’s built on trust - something Golesh clearly values.
Rounding out the staff are Larry Porter and Larry Scott, two coaches with diverse backgrounds and deep experience. Porter’s time under Mack Brown and Les Miles gives him a unique perspective on player development and recruiting, while Scott brings head coaching experience from his time at Howard University.
He also has a personal connection to Golesh - his son, Larry Scott III, played for Golesh at USF - but this hire is about more than family ties. It’s about adding another voice with a wide lens on the sport.
When you step back and look at the full picture, Golesh’s staff is a blend of modern offensive minds, hard-nosed SEC veterans, and coaches with deep Auburn roots. The coaching tree branches are impressive - from Josh Heupel to Nick Saban, Urban Meyer to Dan Mullen, Mack Brown to Will Muschamp. And Golesh is hoping that this mix of influences, philosophies, and experiences can come together to form something uniquely Auburn.
It’s a staff that knows how to recruit, knows how to develop, and - perhaps most importantly - knows how to win. The challenge now is translating that pedigree into performance on the field.
But with this group, Golesh isn’t starting from scratch. He’s starting with a staff that’s been there, done that, and is ready to do it again - this time, on the Plains.