Tag: Alex Golesh

Tyler Hudanick to serve as assistant coach for Alex Golesh at USF

Tennessee’s Tyler Hudanick to serve as offensive line coach for Alex Golesh at USF.

Tennessee offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh has been named head coach at South Florida.

“This program will have an identity both offensively and defensively, and with special teams,” Golesh said of becoming USF’s head coach. “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.”

Tyler Hudanick will serve as USF’s offensive line coach under Golesh. Hudanick served as an offensive line graduate assistant for the Vols from 2021-22.

Hudanick played for Josh Heupel in 2018 at UCF. He was a member UCF’s 2017 and 2018 American Athletic Conference championship teams. Hudanick started 28 games in his career for the Knights on the offensive line.

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Josh Heupel, Mike Vrabel discuss Alex Golesh becoming USF’s head coach

Josh Heupel and Mike Vrabel discuss Alex Golesh becoming USF’s head coach.

Tennessee offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh has been named head coach at South Florida.

“I am thankful to Chairman Weatherford, President Law and Michael Kelly for their support and belief in me to bring the USF program back to the top of college football,” Golesh said in a press release. “I’m excited to be back in the state of Florida 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.”

Alex Golesh’s coaching resume

  • South Florida head coach (2023)
  • Tennessee offensive coordinator and tight ends coach (2021-22)
  • UCF offensive coordinator and tight ends coach (2020)
  • Iowa State tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator (2016-19)
  • Illinois tight ends and special teams coach (2015)
  • Illinois running backs, tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator (2014)
  • Illinois tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator (2012-13)
  • Toledo tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator (2010-11)
  • Toledo running backs coach and recruiting coordinator (2009)
  • Oklahoma State graduate assistant (2008)
  • Northern Illinois graduate assistant (2006-07)
  • Ohio State student assistant (2004-05)
  • Westerville Central High School (OH) defensive line coach (2003)

Following Golesh being hired as USF’s head coach, coaches throughout the sport discussed his career and can be read below.

Alex Golesh discusses being ‘aggressive team’ as USF’s head coach

Alex Golesh discusses being an aggressive team as USF’s head coach.

Tennessee offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh has been named head coach at South Florida.

“I am thankful to Chairman Weatherford, President Law and Michael Kelly for their support and belief in me to bring the USF program back to the top of college football,” Golesh said in a press release. “I’m excited to be back in the state of Florida 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 will be introduced as USF’s head coach Monday at 11:30 a.m. EST in the USF Alumni Center on the Tampa, Florida campus. The event will be open to the public.

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Coaching options for Tennessee in replacing Alex Golesh

A look at coaching options for Tennessee in replacing offensive coordinator Alex Golesh.

Josh Heupel has guided Tennessee to 17 regular-season wins in two seasons.

Heupel had one coaching staff change following the 2021 season. Wide receivers coach Kodi Burns joined the New Orleans Saints’ coaching staff in the same capacity.

Kelsey Pope was promoted from an offensive analyst in 2021, replacing Burns under Heupel.

This year, Heupel has to replace one coach already. Tennessee offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh will be the new head coach at South Florida, according to multiple reports.

Following Golesh’s departure for USF, Vols Wire looks at ideal coaching candidates to replace him.

Heupel could shuffle his on-field staff to fill the offensive coordinator vacancy, add a certain coach currently outside the program or promote someone already at Tennessee from an off-field capacity.

Heupel’s current on-field staff consists of Pope, quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle, offensive line coach Glen Elarbee and running backs coach Jerry Mack.

Individuals already within Tennessee’s program in an off-field capacity include offensive support staff personnel Alec Abeln, Kody Cook, Alex Fagan, Charlie High, Tyler Hudanick, Mitch Militello, Jared Peery, Jack Taylor, Max Thurmond and Aston Walter.

Below are coaches who are outside of Tennessee’s program who would be ideal in joining Heupel’s staff.

Alex Golesh a finalist for Broyles Award

Tennessee assistant coach Alex Golesh is a finalist for the Broyles Award.

Tennessee (10-2, 6-2 SEC) concluded its regular-season Nov. 26, defeating Vanderbilt 56-0.

Following the Vols’ regular-season finale, Tennessee offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh was named a finalist for the Broyles Award.

The Broyles Award is presented annually to the top assistant coach in the country by a selection committee of distinguished former head coaches, broadcasters and members representing the Football Writers Association of America.

Golesh is the second Tennessee assistant coach to be named a finalist for the Broyles Award. Former Tennessee offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach David Cutcliffe was a finalist in 1997 before winning the award in 1998.

The winner of the Broyles Award will be announced Dec. 6 between Golesh, Georgia offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Todd Monken, Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters, Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and TCU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Garrett Riley.

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CU Buffs head coach search buzz: Tennessee OC Alex Golesh could provide offensive hope

Tennessee OC Alex Golesh has played a major part in the Vols’ rise this season

The Colorado Buffaloes should soon decide on a new head coach. In the meantime, a lot of names have fizzled out while the top ones (such as Bronco Mendenhall) continue to be a realistic option.

However, there is a new name on the list, according to Adam Munsterteiger of BuffStampede. The new candidate is Tennessee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh.

The engineer of a Tennessee offense that ranks first nationally in scoring at 47.4 points per game and total offense at 543.7 yards per contest this season, Golesh is a star on the rise. He was previously the co-offensive coordinator at UCF and he spent time as an assistant coach at Iowa State, Illinois and Toledo. Golesh is young and does not have head coaching experience, though, so like (Illinoise DC Ryan) Walters, he might be viewed as too big of a risk for George to hire in Boulder.

The 38-year-old has worked wonders with the Volunteers’ offense this season, and the Buffs desperately need an offensive makeover in the biggest way possible.

Although Golesh has no head coaching experience, he might be a good low-risk, high-reward option for Rick George and the Buffs if they decide to go with a young, up-and-coming coach.

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Alex Golesh discusses Tennessee’s wide receiver rotation at Pittsburgh

Alex Golesh discusses Tennessee’s wide receiver rotation at Pittsburgh.

No. 16 Tennessee (2-0) will host Akron (1-1) Saturday at Neyland Stadium in Week 3 (7 p.m. EDT, SEC Network+).

The Vols enter its Week 3 nonconference contest following a 34-27 overtime win at Pittsburgh.

Tennessee offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh met with media Tuesday ahead of playing Akron. He discussed the Vols’ wide receiver rotation featuring three wideouts recording receptions at Pittsburgh.

“I think how guys practice, and again, this is not a coach answer, you are going to play the guys at the current moment situationally that give you the best opportunity to win,” Golesh said. “That is our job. That game was so unique in how we knew we would get defended. We knew that we were going to have to win the game on the outside. There wasn’t going to be a whole lot in there in terms of running the football down to down. For eight years, people have not been able to run the football on Pitt. For us and our best chance to win, it was going to be on the outside in a lot of ways. We didn’t hit them all, and we left some out there.

“I think the guys who left some out there were severely disappointed, but I think they’ve also moved on and learned from it. We have a long season with some really good defenses ahead of us. I absolutely hope that more guys can play. At the end of the day, I don’t think any of us are going to apologize for playing situationally the guys who we thought were going to win us the football game.”

Below are Tennessee players at all positions who recorded receptions at Pittsburgh.

Alex Golesh provides ‘unique’ evaluation of Vols’ run game ahead of Week 3

Tennessee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh provides ‘unique’ evaluation of Vols’ run game ahead of Week 3.

No. 16 Tennessee (2-0) will host Akron (1-1) Saturday at Neyland Stadium in Week 3 (7 p.m. EDT, SEC Network+).

The Vols enter its Week 3 nonconference contest following a 34-27 overtime win at Pittsburgh.

Tennessee defeated Ball State, 59-10, in Week 1 at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh met with media Tuesday and provided an evaluation of the Vols’ run game entering Week 3.

Golesh called Tennessee’s run game through two games “unique.”

“The first week against Ball State, we got something that we anticipated, but didn’t truly prepare for in terms of a total drop eight game,” Golesh said. “I thought we ran the ball pretty well. We got a bunch of guys in. I think we played five running backs in that game. We ran it pretty well minus the turnover on the fumble.

“This last week, we knew exactly what kind of game it was going to be in terms of what Pitt is defensively and how they are built. We knew it was going to be tough sledding running the ball. We also knew that the quarterback run game was going to be our best run game in terms of being able to actually have everybody up and forcibly run the ball. How Pitt is built, they are really, really sound. They are going to force you to throw the football. I think for what was presented, which is what we prepared for, I think we ran the ball okay. We put a ball on the ground in short yardage. That is two weeks in a row. That is beyond disappointing, and in a lot of ways, unacceptable. If I lose sleep about anything, it’s that. We can’t win games if we put the ball on the ground like that. We got away with one there, whether it was the football gods looking over us or maybe we are just that good of people. It turned out in our favor, but you can’t put the ball on the ground in tight games like that. I don’t know if you are asking for a letter grade, but I think it is a work in progress and is a huge point of emphasis for us. I think the offensive line is playing extremely well. We have some backs that we are confident with. We have to hang on to the football. It will just keep coming as the season goes.”

SEC football: Rushing yards leaders following Week 2

Tennessee’s leaders for rushing yards ahead of Week 3

Below are Tennessee’s team rushing statistics entering Week 3.

Alex Golesh details Vols’ competition at left tackle ahead of Week 1

Alex Golesh details Tennessee’s competition at left tackle ahead of Week 1.

Tennessee will kick off its 2022 season Sept. 1 versus Ball State at Neyland Stadium.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. EDT and SEC Network will televise the season-opening matchup.

Ahead of the Vols’ first game, second-year offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh discussed Tennessee’s competition at left tackle between Jeremiah Crawford and Gerald Mincey.

“I think the best thing for both of those guys is that there was real competition in there, and they both knew they couldn’t have a bad day,” Golesh said. “Inherently, Coach (Glen) Elarbee has rotated both of them. They’ve both gotten to play next to Jerome (Carvin). I feel good with both those guys. They’re different players. They’re both inexperienced, but they’re different, so they both have weaknesses, they both have strengths.

“I don’t know that you call the game any different with either one in there by any means, but I think, again, similar to the freshmen, J.J.’s played some and Gerald’s played some. Just not a ton, and not a ton of meaningful reps, so you go in, you kind of let it sort out as they go. They’ll both play, and we’ll see who it is that we have more sync with. If it’s both of them, awesome. We’ll be deeper there than we felt like we were a year ago.”

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Alex Golesh discusses Tennessee’s wide receivers ahead of Ball State game

Alex Golesh discusses Tennessee’s wide receivers ahead of the Ball State game.

Tennessee will kick off its 2022 season Sept. 1 versus Ball State at Neyland Stadium.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. EDT and SEC Network will televise the season-opening matchup.

Ahead of the Vols’ first game, second-year offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh discussed Tennessee’s wide receivers.

“I think we’re as deep at the receiver spot in terms of guys we feel good about playing right now,” Golesh said. “I think they’re still continuing to, one, get healthy. It was good to get a couple of days off, get some guys that we were being really, really careful with, with Jimmy Calloway, Chas (Nimrod), get those guys back healthy — Squirrel (White) — running around.

“I think a lot of it will depend on how this next week-and-a-half goes. I’ve said this before, how they handle camp and spring ball is one thing. How they handle what a real college football player is supposed to be and how they can handle the students on campus now. It’s rush week as I’m driving down Neyland (Drive), so I get it — how do they handle all of that? How do they go through a normal Tuesday, Wednesday, into a Thursday, a Friday, game day. Throwing 15 hours of class at them. I’m not trying to downplay who can play, who cannot play, but who cannot feel like a freshman as a freshman, and if we could play a bunch of guys, that would be awesome. I don’t have a number. I feel like we’re two-deep, two-and-a-half-deep there. A year ago, I felt like we started that way, and then I did not feel that way after we started conference play, so the hope is that we can be at eight guys that can roll through, that can keep us fresh, so we can play as fast as we possibly can, but that would be the goal is to have seven to eight that can go. I feel like we do at this point.”

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