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Former Tennessee fan favorite is back in the SEC after taking Arkansas job

A former Tennessee offensive coordinator is returning to the Volunteers' conference after taking a job with the Arkansas Razorbacks.
BySam Fariss|
Tennessee Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Alex Golesh during the first day of Tennessee football practice at Anderson Training Facility in Knoxville, Tenn. on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022
Tennessee Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Alex Golesh during the first day of Tennessee football practice at Anderson Training Facility in Knoxville, Tenn. on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022 | Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Tennessee Volunteers have yet another former coordinator as a part of the head coaching tree in college football.

Former Vols offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh just spent three years as the USF Bulls' head coach after spending two seasons under Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel.

Now, Golesh has reportedly been hired as the Arkansas Razorbacks' newest head coach, returning the former Volunteers assistant to the SEC.

Alex Golesh becomes Power Conference head coach

During his three-year tenure with the Bulls, Golesh led USF to a 22-15 overall record, including an 8-3 record so far this season, priming the team for yet another postseason appearance.

The previous two seasons, Golesh coached USF to back-to-back postgame victories, including a win over Syracuse in the 2023 Boca Raton Bowl and a win over San Jose State in the 2024 Hawaii Bowl.

Now, Golesh is tasked with reviving an Arkansas football program that hasn't been formidable in quite some time. For further context, so far this season, the Razorbacks are just 2-9 overall and an abysmal 0-7 against SEC opponents.

The former Volunteer assistant undeniably has an uphill battle ahead of him, but Golesh has the resume to back up his value as a collegiate head coach.

Alex Golesh college coaching resume

  • 2004–2005 Ohio State (SA)
  • 2006–2007 Northern Illinois (GA)
  • 2008 Oklahoma State (GA)
  • 2009 Toledo (RB/RC)
  • 2010–2011 Toledo (TE/RC)
  • 2012–2013 Illinois (TE/RC)
  • 2014 Illinois (TE/HB/RC)
  • 2015 Illinois (TE/ST)
  • 2016–2019 Iowa State (TE/RC)
  • 2020 UCF (Co-OC/TE)
  • 2021–2022 Tennessee (OC/TE)
  • 2023–2025 South Florida
  • Present Arkansas

Over the last two decades, Golesh flew up the ranks at every program he became a part of, especially proving his worth during his three-year tenure at Illinois. Then, when Heupel brought him on as Tennessee's offensive coordinator and tight ends coach, he earned a chance to be a head coach.

His time with USF showed that he can take the next step, moving from a Group of 5 program to a Power Conference program. Now, it's just time to see if he has what it takes to make it with an SEC program.

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