Alex Golesh addresses plans for Auburn defensive staff, plans for DJ Durkin

Staff turnover is natural when a new head coach is hired. During his introductory press conference on Monday, new Auburn head coach Alex Golesh revealed his plans for defensive coordinator DJ Durkin, who’d been serving as the team’s interim coach since Hugh Freeze was fired.

“We’ve got a plan,” Golesh said. “We’re working through steps to execute the plan. My hope is that in the next—call it—24 or 48 hours, that gets finalized and we have some clarity with which direction we’re going.”

Golesh, who has been USF‘s head coach from 2023-25, is an offensive-minded coach. USF is averaging 43.0 points per game this season, the third-most in the nation.

In turn, Golesh is bringing USF wide receivers coach Kodi Burns, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joel Gordon and offensive line coach Tyler Hudanick with him to Auburn. Alas, it appears Golesh won’t be bringing nearly as many defensive staff members with him to the Plains.

In fairness, USF’s defense is allowing 386.8 yards of offense per game this season, ranking 81st in college football. In contrast, under Durkin, Auburn’s defense ranked No. 31 in yards allowed per game this season.

Durkin was hired as Auburn’s defensive coordinator in 2024. The Tigers posted a 1-2 record while Durkin served as the team’s interim coach. However, they showed a reinvigorated passion on the field, lending credence to Durkin’s leadership abilities.

Moreover, their losses against Alabama and Vanderbilt were each by a single touchdown. Further, Auburn took the Commodores to overtime. Auburn’s defensive players certainly enjoyed battling under Durkin’s leadership.

“The best four weeks of my life,” Auburn defensive end Kendrick Faulk said of the final four weeks of the season. “The last four weeks felt like college football. From Vanderbilt to now as just a different atmosphere within the whole team. It was just different. I’m grateful.”

As Golesh said, Auburn fans should expect to know soon who will be leading the Tigers’ defense next season. Whoever is calling plays for Auburn’s defense next season, Tigers fans can expect to be entertained.

“What you’re going to get from me, from our staff and as we get rolling our players, is the hardest-working, toughest, grittiest program in the entire country,” Alex Golesh said Monday. “We’re going to find wins at every single margin we can find. 

“… Defensively, we’re going to be just as fun to watch. We’ll be aggressive, create negatives, create turnovers. We’re going to be the most violent freaking team on the football field every single Saturday.”