Alex Golesh’s First Auburn Staff Signals a Clear Message: Elite or Bust
When Auburn tabbed Alex Golesh as its next head coach, some fans understandably raised an eyebrow. Another hire from the Group of Five? Questions about experience and SEC readiness were bound to follow.
But Golesh didn’t flinch. And if his first few moves are any indication, he’s not here to ease into the job - he’s here to make a statement.
Right out of the gate, Golesh brought in someone who knows the Auburn program inside and out: Kodi Burns. A former Tigers wide receiver and assistant coach, Burns returned as Golesh’s first official hire.
It was a move that tugged at the heartstrings of the fanbase, but it also raised a few questions. Could Golesh, with just two years of SEC experience as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and three years total as a head coach, build a staff that could compete in the gauntlet of the SEC?
That was the early chatter, especially when recruiting insiders noted Golesh wanted to move quickly on staffing. But by the end of National Signing Day, only a few names had been confirmed - including the retention of defensive coordinator DJ Durkin and a handful of coaches making the jump with Golesh from USF.
So when Golesh stepped to the podium for a press conference a week after his official introduction, there were still more questions than answers about the full staff. But Golesh, calm and confident, made it clear where his priorities had been.
“We’re close,” he said. “Fortunate to be coming from a place where we had elite level coaches, elite level support staff.
Brought a handful, going to bring some more. And then, (we have) the opportunity to go and hire the absolute best.”
That word - elite - kept coming up. Not good.
Not solid. Elite.
Golesh emphasized that every hire had to meet a specific standard, one he laid out from day one. The goal wasn’t to simply fill positions.
It was to bring in the best possible people at every level of the program. That mindset, he said, was non-negotiable.
“Every conversation I’ve had has been literally, ‘Man, this person’s really good, this person’s really great.’ That’s awesome.
I want elite,” Golesh said. “We want elite at every single spot… Every single aspect of the program.
We’ve got the resources to go out and hire the best people in the country, and that’s exactly what we’ve tried to do.”
Eight days later, Auburn officially announced Golesh’s complete on-field staff. And the final piece of the puzzle was a name that turned a few heads: Larry Scott, who had spent the last six seasons as the head coach at Howard, an FCS program.
Scott’s resume runs deep. He’s a former SEC assistant with coordinator experience, and Golesh didn’t hold back in his praise.
“Larry’s the kind of coach you want in your building,” Golesh said in a statement. “He knows the position, he knows how to develop young men, and he’s done it at a high level for a long time. Our tight ends are going to benefit immediately from his experience and his approach.”
But it was the next line that really drove home Golesh’s vision: “Adding an elite coach like Larry with his experience in the SEC and as a head coach and coordinator is huge for the program.”
That word again - elite. It’s not just a buzzword for Golesh. It’s a blueprint.
And that’s what separates this staff-building process from Auburn’s last two coaching transitions. In hindsight, those hires didn’t always reflect a clear, cohesive plan.
Golesh, on the other hand, is sticking to a high bar from day one. He’s not rushing to fill roles.
He’s not settling. He’s building something with intention.
For Auburn fans, there’s reason to be cautiously optimistic. Yes, Golesh is still relatively new to the SEC grind. But his approach - laser-focused on quality, culture, and alignment - is exactly what a program like Auburn needs as it looks to reestablish itself in the upper tier of college football.
If Golesh’s first staff is any indication, he’s not just trying to survive in the SEC. He’s aiming to thrive - and he’s bringing elite with him every step of the way.