Auburn football is turning the page.
After a rocky tenure under Hugh Freeze, the Tigers are shifting gears with new head coach Alex Golesh, a fresh face with a high-octane offensive pedigree and a clear vision for where this program needs to go. Freeze, despite pulling in some solid recruits during his time on the Plains, never managed to solve Auburn’s most glaring issue: quarterback play.
And in the SEC, if you can’t find consistency under center, you’re going to struggle to stack wins. That was the story of the Freeze era-flashes of potential, but ultimately, a team that couldn’t get out of its own way.
Now, Auburn is betting on Golesh to be the guy who can finally get this thing back on track. Coming off a season where he led one of the most explosive offenses in the country at USF-second nationally in total offense-Golesh arrives with momentum and a modern approach. He’s already making noise in recruiting, retaining key talent, and laying the groundwork for a culture shift that’s long overdue.
Sure, Golesh hasn’t yet proven himself as a head coach in the SEC, but he’s no stranger to the league. His background includes stops as an assistant in some of the toughest environments college football has to offer.
And perhaps more importantly, he’s not going it alone. Golesh has built a staff loaded with experience-former head coaches, seasoned coordinators, and assistants who’ve been through the wars.
That kind of support system matters, especially when you’re stepping into the pressure cooker that is SEC football.
Paul Finebaum, never shy with a hot take, was recently asked to describe 13 college football coaches in a single word. His picks for Golesh and Freeze couldn’t have been more different.
For Golesh? “Fascinating.”
Finebaum praised his poise, his backstory, and the buzz surrounding his arrival, saying, “Everything about him is interesting.” That’s high praise from one of the sport’s most respected voices.
As for Freeze, Finebaum didn’t hold back-his word: “laughable.” It’s a harsh label, but in the context of Freeze’s time at Auburn, it’s hard to argue with the sentiment.
The program had talent, resources, and opportunity, but the results simply never matched the potential. Sometimes, when things go that far off the rails, all you can do is shake your head and move on.
And that’s exactly what Auburn is doing-moving on. With Golesh at the helm, there’s a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.
It’s early, but the energy feels different. Auburn fans have seen false starts before, but this one feels like it could be more than just another reboot.
It feels like the beginning of something worth watching.