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The Auburn football program has found its next head coach. Alex Golesh will lead the Tigers in the 2026 season.
He may or may not have been the school’s top choice. Jon Sumrall was also identified as a strong candidate before withdrawing from the race.
Both coaches have seen success at the Group of Five level. The conference rivals have led two of the American’s top teams in 2025.
Golesh’s USF squad is 9-3 while boasting wins over Florida and Boise State. Sumrall’s Tulane bunch is 10-2 and gearing up for an AAC title matchup against North Texas.
Should the Green Wave win, a College Football Playoff invite is likely. Sumrall is hoping to finish his tenure in New Orleans strong before moving onto the SEC.
Jon Sumrall will coach football at Florida, not Auburn.
Initially, Sumrall trended to the Tigers as the coaching search heated up. Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy believes the school waited too long to pull the trigger.
“It would be Auburn’s fault, in my opinion, for waiting. That would be a big mistake. You’ve got a good guy, a good candidate who has an appeal towards Auburn. And the longer you drag your feet, the more likely other schools are going to be in the mix.”
-Greg McElroy
Auburn’s hesitance provided Florida with an opportunity to pounce. It did so, announcing Sumrall as its next football coach on Sunday.
The head coach reportedly pulled his name out of the running in Auburn on Saturday. Reasoning on that move isn’t entirely clear.
2 coaches not taking jobs: Multiple sources tell @FootballScoop that Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall has withdrawn from Auburn’s coaching search as Florida continues pursuit. Drew Cronic was offered & declined the UAB job, multiple sources w direct knowledge tell @FootballScoop
— John Brice (@JohnDBrice1) November 29, 2025
Did Auburn pass on Sumrall for Golesh? Did Sumrall prefer Florida? Both could be true. Those close to the program suggest otherwise.
It’s being reported that money was not the reason for the decision. Instead, outside influence caused Sumrall to “sour” on Auburn.
Mike Gittens of The War Rapport claims that Auburn’s offer was as strong, if not stronger than that of the Gators. Negative narratives surrounding a potentially messy program, however, led to rejection.
A second independent source has told @thewarrapport that Jon Sumrall soured on the Auburn job after being presented with a series of discouraging narratives about what coaching on the Plains would entail. Those accounts ranged from stories of overreaching boosters to allegations…
— Mike G. (@mikegittens) November 30, 2025
Are the Tigers promoting failure?
Gittens says that someone got in Jon Sumrall’s ear to warn him of Auburn’s dysfunction. Booster influence and athletic department espionage were listed as obstacles impeding the head coach’s ability to succeed.
Are they true? Maybe, maybe not. This is not, however, the first time these rumors have surfaced.
Boosters appeared to play a very large role in the firing of Bryan Harsin. Less than two years into his tenure, he was booted amid unproven rumors that had little to do with his on-field performance.
Harsin did not trust Auburn boosters that had too much influence on his future. He felt personally attacked by the university that employed him.
That would lend support to Gittens’ previous insinuations on Sumrall. Those same donors had an impact on Hugh Freeze’s exit a few years later.
The Tigers have fired four head coaches since 2012. The last two leaders couldn’t make it through Year 3.
Auburn has not given its recent coaches a chance to win. Too many prominent people around the school have a say in the direction of the program. In some instances, it seems boosters prefer failure.
Jon Sumrall might not have been willing to join the mess. He chose Florida instead.