USF Bulls Football lose head coach Alex Golesh, departs for Auburn

USF Football took a bit hit over the Thanksgiving weekend as head coach Alex Golesh accepted the head coaching position at Auburn. His tenure at the University of South Florida was significant. The Bulls won 23 games in the last three seasons and had only won four games in the previous three seasons.

He capped off his South Florida stay with a 9-3 record, qualifying the Bulls to their third straight bowl game. Unfortunately, he will not coach in the Bulls’ 2025 bowl game since he is already hitting the recruiting trail hard for Auburn, saying:

"We’re going to recruit this 250-mile radius harder than anybody in the entire country. The high school football within these 250 miles is nothing short of elite. I’ve been in this part of the country for a long time. I’ve recruited this part of the country for a long time."

In 2025, the USF Bulls averaged 43 points per game, ranking fourth in the nation. They averaged 501.7 yards per game, ranking second in the nation. They also put up 43 plays of 30+ yards, ranking first in the nation.

USF v Florida GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 06: Head coach Alex Golesh of the South Florida Bulls celebrates after defeating the Florida Gators 18-16 in a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 06, 2025 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) (James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Alabama v USF TAMPA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Alex Golesh of the South Florida Bulls looks on during a timeout in the first quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Raymond James Stadium on September 16, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Rice v South Florida TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Alex Golesh of the South Florida Bulls looks on during the first half of a game against the Rice Owls at Raymond James Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

South Florida v UAB BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 22: Head coach Alex Golesh of the South Florida Bulls talks with officials during the first half against the UAB Blazers at Protective Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Stew Milne/Getty Images) (Stew Milne/Getty Images)

Boise State v South Florida TAMPA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 28: Head coach Alex Golesh of the South Florida Bulls reacts in the third quarter against the Boise State Broncos at Raymond James Stadium on August 28, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Miami v USF TAMPA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Miami Hurricanes shakes hands with head coach Alex Golesh of the South Florida Bulls after a game at Raymond James Stadium on September 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. The Hurricanes defeated the Bulls 50-15. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Rice v South Florida TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 29: Alex Golesh of the South Florida Bulls celebrates with Byrum Brown #17 after a touchdown in the second half of a game against the Rice Owls at Raymond James Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

USF v Miami MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 13: South Flordia Bulls head coach Alex Golesh heads to the locker room against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

South Florida v San Jose State - Hawaii Bowl HONOLULU, HAWAII - DECEMBER 24: Head coach Alex Golesh of the South Florida Bulls heads onto the field to tend to an injured player during the second half of the game against the San Jose Spartans at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on December 24, 2024 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Image (Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)

Rice v South Florida TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Alex Golesh of the South Florida Bulls is interviewed at halftime during a game against the Rice Owls at Raymond James Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl - USF v Syracuse BOCA RATON, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 21: Israel Carter #13 of the South Florida Bulls and head coach Alex Golesh celebrate after defeating the Syracuse Orange in the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl game at FAU Stadium on December 21, 2023 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) (Rich Storry/Getty Images)

South Florida v UAB BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 22: Head coach Alex Golesh of the South Florida Bulls shakes hands with interim head coach Alex Mortensen of the UAB Blazers following a game at Protective Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Stew Milne/Getty Images) (Stew Milne/Getty Images)

Alabama v USF TAMPA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Nick Saban (right) of the Alabama Crimson Tide shakes hands with head coach Alex Golesh (left) of the South Florida Bulls after the Tide defeated the Bulls 17-3 at Raymond James Stadium on September 16, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Rice v South Florida TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Alex Golesh and CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins of the South Florida Bulls converse following the last regular season game against the Rice Owls at Raymond James Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. The South Florida Bulls defeated the Rice Owls 52-3. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

He takes over an Auburn football program that lost 12 of their last 15 SEC games. Golesh said at his introductory news conference:

“We’re going to be the most violent freaking team on the football field every single Saturday. We’re going to be different on special teams. We’re going to create explosives on teams. It’s going to be a huge difference in why we win. We’re going to outwork, outthink and out-process people across the entire country.”

Golesh is taking with him former Auburn player and his current assistant Kodi Burns to be his associate head coach. Kodi was South Florida’s receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator under Golesh.

USF Interim Head Coach and Defensive Line Coach Kevin Patrick will coach the Bulls during the bowl game. Patrick is a member of the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame, having played at The U in the late 80’s/early 90’s. This is his third stint at USF. Rivals named him one of the nation’s top-25 recruiters in 2009 during his second stint.