Tennessee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh reportedly 'a prime' candidate for Cincinnati job
Tennessee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh is “a prime candidate” in Cincinnati’s search for a head coach, according to The Athletic.
Former Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell was hired at Wisconsin on Sunday.
“Golesh grew up in Dublin, Ohio, near Columbus,” The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman wrote of Golesh, “and began his carer as a student assistant on Jim Tressel’s staff at Ohio State. He then helped (Matt) Campbell get things rolling at Iowa State before going to UCF with Josh Heupel.
“The 38-year-old, who handles play-calling duties for the Vols, had a key role in the program going from No. 102 in total offense (in 2020) to No. 7 in 2021 to No. 1 this year. The Broyles Award finalist is another prime candidate.”
Other coaches listed by The Athletic as candidates at Cincinnati included Iowa State’s Matt Campbell, Cincinnati offensive coordinate Gino Guidugli, Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, Ohio State passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Brain Hartline, Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore and LSU defensive coordinator Matt House.
Alex Golesh named Broyles Award finalist
Golesh on Monday became just the second Tennessee assistant to be named a Broyles Award finalist, the award presented annually to college football’s top assistant coach. David Cutcliffe was a finalist in 1998.
Tennessee (10-2, 6-2 SEC) is likely headed for a New Years Six bowl game after winning 10 games in the regular season for the first time since 2003.
Josh Heupel had to replace only one assistant coach a year ago, after his first year at Tennessee. Former wide receivers coach Kodi Burns left for the same position with the New Orleans Saints, with Heupel later promoting Kelsey Pope to replace Burns.
After starting his career at Ohio State as a student assistant, Golesh moved to Northern Illinois (graduate assistant), Oklahoma State (graduate assistant), Toledo (tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator), Illinois (tight ends, running backs, recruiting coordinator, special teams coordinator), Iowa State (tight ends, recruiting coordinator) and UCF (co-offensive coordinator, tight ends).
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Tennessee finished No. 1 in total offense, scoring offense this season
The Vols finished the regular season No. 1 in scoring offense (47.3 points per game), No. 1 in total offense (538.1 yards per game), No. 3 in passing offense (332.3 yards per game) and No. 18 in rushing offense (205.75 yards per game).
In 2021, Tennessee finished No. 7 in scoring offense, No. 9 in total offense, No. 12 in rushing offense and No. 39 in passing offense.
Golesh has coached tight ends at Tennessee while serving as offensive coordinator the last two seasons.
The Vols have produced back-to-back 1,000-yard receivers during the first two years of the Heupel and Golesh offense. Jalin Hyatt finished this season with 67 catches for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns, the most in college football. Cedric Tillman last season had 64 receptions for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Quarterback Hendon Hooker was a star in the uptempo system, passing for 6,080 yards and 58 touchdowns, with just five interceptions, in his 24 career games at Tennessee.
