Alex Golesh, the 41-year-old head coach of the South Florida Bulls, has accepted an offer to become the next head football coach at the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. The news, first broken by Trey Schaap of 103.7 The Buzz in Little Rock, has been corroborated by outlets including 247Sports, Sports Illustrated, and AL.com, with negotiations described as “deep” and nearing completion. While neither Arkansas nor USF has issued an official confirmation as of November 27, the buzz on social media and in college football circles suggests this hire could be announced imminently.
Background on Alex Golesh
Golesh, born in Moscow, Soviet Union, and raised in Ohio after immigrating as a child, brings a wealth of offensive expertise to Fayetteville. A graduate of Ohio State, he has held coaching roles at Iowa State, Illinois, Toledo, UCF, and Tennessee—where he served as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach under Josh Heupel from 2021-2022. During his Tennessee tenure, the Volunteers exploded offensively, posting an 11-2 record in 2022 and ranking among the nation’s top scoring attacks.
In December 2022, Golesh took over a struggling USF program that had gone 1-11 the prior season. He quickly turned things around:
• 2023: 7-6 record, including a bowl berth and win (Fermi Bowl).
• 2024: 7-6 record, another bowl victory.
• 2025: 8-3 so far (4-2 in AAC), with a marquee upset over Florida early in the season, though a recent loss to Navy (41-38) knocked them out of playoff contention.
Overall, Golesh boasts a 22-15 record at USF, with back-to-back bowl wins and a reputation for high-powered offenses. His six-year, $15.3 million contract at USF includes a $2 million buyout if he leaves before December 31, 2025.
A key personal tie? Golesh’s wife, Alexis, hails from Greenwood, Arkansas, and is a lifelong Razorbacks fan who “never missed a home game” growing up, per USF’s athletics site. She currently works in healthcare management across the state.
Arkansas’ Situation and Why Golesh Fits
The Razorbacks fired Sam Pittman on September 28, 2025, after a humiliating 56-13 home loss to Notre Dame, leaving the team at 2-3. Veteran Bobby Petrino stepped in as interim coach but has gone 0-6, with Arkansas now 2-9 (0-7 in SEC) heading into their finale against Missouri. The program, desperate for relevance in the loaded SEC, sought an offensive innovator with recruiting ties and youth to rebuild amid the transfer portal era.
Golesh checks those boxes: His SEC experience, rapid USF turnaround, and family roots make him a “no-brainer” fit, per insiders. Arkansas reportedly beat out candidates like North Texas’ Eric Morris, Tulane’s Jon Sumrall, and even a potential return for Petrino. The hire signals a bet on a “builder” coach who can accelerate roster turnover—especially at quarterback, with senior Taylen Green departing.
Petrino, reflecting on his interim stint, posted a gracious statement on X: “Being back on the Arkansas sideline has been both an honor and a privilege… To the Razorback fans, THANK YOU! You welcomed me back with the same pride and passion that make this place so unique.” It’s unclear if he’ll stay on staff.
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