If there is anyone who knows Byrum Brown well, it is Alex Golesh. The first-year Auburn head football coach made certain that the quarterback followed him from USF to the Plains this offseason as they try to turn the Tigers’ program, especially the offense, around.
Brown spent three seasons as Golesh’s starter for the Bulls (he did miss half of the 2024 season with an injury) and was at his best last year, throwing for 3,158 yards and 28 touchdowns while rushing for 1,008 yards and 14 more scores.
But it’s more than the talent that has Golesh singing the praises of his signal-caller. It’s how Brown handles everything that comes with the job.
"It’s not even the player as much as the human,” Golesh said. “When you can point to a guy who is everything you’re looking for in terms of what you want, quote, unquote, the identity of your program to be."
Byrum Brown helping create Auburn's identity
Auburn’s identity over the past five seasons has been nowhere to be found. While Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze brought in their own ideas and how to build Auburn back into a powerhouse, both ultimately failed, and quickly. Harsin coached 21 games before being fired. Freeze made it through 34 games before getting the axe.
The result was five straight losing seasons and one of the darkest eras in program history.
Golesh is in charge of changing that, and at 41 years old, is young and energetic enough to get the job done. While the transition to being a head coach in the SEC might take some time, Golesh has, so far, done almost all the right things, including bringing in Brown and a slew of former USF players that both he and the quarterback are comfortable with.
A winning season is the goal for Golesh in his first year. A bowl victory, Auburn’s first since 2018, would make for a great campaign. Everything above that is icing on the cake.
For now, he has entrusted Brown to turn Auburn’s offense into one of the most explosive in college football, something that Harsin and Freeze failed to do. And, from everything coming out of the football facility, Brown quickly took a leadership role even as a newcomer.
If Auburn follows Brown’s guide, Golesh could achieve more than the last two coaches combined in just his first year. That would bring a smile to a lot of Auburn fans everywhere.
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