Sports

Alex Golesh Presents Stark Contrast To Hugh Freeze With Refusal To Foster Dysfunction

#auburn tigers
by
Alex Golesh / Auburn Tigers

© Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images


Alex Golesh is the new Auburn head football coach. Just one day into the job, he’s proving to be the anti-Hugh Freeze.

Golesh presents a stark contrast from his predecessor, who was often criticized for creating unnecessary headlines. He’s been a welcomed addition to a program in need of a turnaround.

Auburn hired Freeze after the dramatic exit of Bryan Harsin. The change in leadership did little to provide stability.

Freeze went 15-19 across three seasons. He was fired before the conclusion of the 2025 campaign. Year 3 was chaotic.

Golesh has been brought on to weather the storm. His success at South Florida was enough to land him the gig. He’s wasted no time in winning the fanbase over.

Alex Golesh is not Hugh Freeze.

Freeze seemed to invite criticism with both his on- and off-field approaches. He was blasted by Auburn supporters in the offseason due to recruiting failures. A narrative quickly formed surrounding his dedication to the job.

Freeze was on the links at least 20 days in the month of June. All the while, rival Alabama was racking up 5-star commitments from talented high school football players.

It was believed that he prioritized golf during a crucial recruiting stretch. It is an issue the Tigers will not have to deal with during Golesh’s tenure.

Golesh lived on a golf course in Florida. His family enjoys playing. He does not.

Instead, the focus is on football, something that’s clearly paid off given his recent promotion. His mindset hasn’t changed after landing his first SEC gig.

Golesh is process driven. He is meticulous when it comes to the details of running a program. He thrives on structure, organization, and discipline.

He refuses to let dysfunction creep in. He trusts his staff to do its job, something that wasn’t always evident under Freeze.

The head coach will not call plays.

Alex Golesh will leave the play calling up to his offensive coordinator. Auburn will have some semblance of structure following Hugh Freeze’s head-scratching approach.

Freeze had three play callers on staff last year, with one being himself. Derrick Nix handled first down. Kent Austin handled third down strategy. Freeze could overrule at any time he saw fit.

The approach failed as the Tigers ranked 11th in the SEC in scoring and total offense.

Golesh is cutting out any potential confusion. Everything will come from one source. It’s already making in impact.

Golesh will hope to build a roster that can sustain success both this year and in seasons to come. His refusal to invite dysfunction into the program should help.

After dealing with the drama that constantly surrounded Hugh Freeze, Alex Golesh’s outlook provides a reason for optimism.