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South Florida announces Alex Golesh as its new head coach

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•12/04/22•

GrantRamey

New South Florida football coach Alex Golesh (South Florida Athletics)
New South Florida football coach Alex Golesh (South Florida Athletics)

Alex Golesh is officially the new head coach at South Florida, with the school announcing the hiring of the Tennessee offensive coordinator on Sunday morning. Reports of Golesh accepting the job surfaced Saturday night.

Golesh, 38, had been Tennessee offensive coordinator and tight ends coach the last two seasons under head coach Josh Heupel.

“I’m excited to be back in the state of Florida,” Golesh said, “and work with the great high school coaches in this state.  This program will have an identity both offensively and defensively, and with special teams. We will be the most aggressive team in the country, both on the field and on the recruiting trail.

“I am humbled by the opportunity, and I appreciate the commitment from this University and Bulls Nation to hiring the best staff in the country. My family and I can’t wait to get going.”

Golesh followed Heupel to Tennessee in January 2021 after working as co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at UCF.

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.

Alex Golesh named Broyles Award finalist

Golesh, who was also a candidate for the Cincinnati job, 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.

Golesh will be the first coordinator Heupel is forced to replace during his time with the Vols.

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.

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.

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