Alex Golesh recounting his Tennessee transition proves he understands how to win in the SEC

Alex Golesh picked Auburn for a reason. He could have had any number of SEC head-coaching jobs after his excellent run previously leading South Florida. While winning in the AAC is much different than winning in the SEC, Golesh explained to Auburn alum and noted media personality Cole Cubelic everything that he learned from Josh Heupel. This bit about going from UCF to Tennessee is amazing.

He started by saying what UCF's big strengths and weaknesses were as an offense when he arrived.

"When Heup hired me at UCF, it was really unique. They were really good on offense, but they were really, really bad at situational football. Really bad on third down. Really bad in the red zone. Scored a bunch of points and had a bunch of explosives, and ran the ball efficiently, but situationally were really bad."

Golesh then explained what Heupel's earliest responsibilities were for him on his UCF offensive staff.

"And that was one thing that Heup said, "My challenge to you is to get us really good on third down, get us really good in the red zone, and don't mess with a whole lot else, and we're gonna take the next step.' Well, COVID happens, and it gave us an opportunity for Heup and I to spend every living moment for four months together."

During COVID, Heupel and Golesh were inseperable, allowing them to really see the game differently.

"One, [it] let me learn how he saw it because he's really innovative and unique in how he sees the game. Very much through a quarterback lens. I still very much see the game through a defensive lens. And honestly, meshed it in a lot of unique ways, and we had time. I think if we just went through normal spring ball and normal summer, I don't know that it would have meshed the way it did."

He then touched on how Heupel emphasized going from the AAC to the SEC was a massive step up.

"We get done with that year and we go to Tennessee. And Heup's biggest thing was, 'Hey, everything we've just done. If we don't change, we're gonna get like, blown up.' And I'm like, 'What do you mean?' He's like, "One, we don't have better players than everybody now. Two, they have corners that can play press man every snap ... Oh, and by the way, like, flip some games on. These pass rushers are unlike anything you've ever seen in your life.'"

Golesh may have been initially skeptical, but he saw how good Georgia and Alabama were firsthand...

"I'm like, "Nah, man. I've coached in the Big Ten, I've coached in the Big 12, and I'll be alright.' And look at that '21 Georgia defense for reference. Look at '21 Alabama defense for reference. Heck, look at South Carolina defensively that year. Every team in this league has freak edge rushers and have corners that can cover. Oh, and by the way, the linebackers they can run and hit. That's where this league is different."

Here is everything Golesh had to say to Cubelic upon making the transition from UCF to Tennessee.

While it may not be a seamless transition, Golesh seems to fully understand what he is walking into.

Alex Golesh has the right mindset in coming back to the SEC at Auburn

Although much has been made about how Heupel's tenure in Knoxville has gone, there is no doubt that his first Tennessee staff hit the ground running. It allowed the Vols to level up as a program very quickly. For better or worse, Heupel is easily the best head coach Tennessee has had since the glory days under Phillip Fulmer in the 1990s and 2000s. We all know Golesh is Heupel's greatest disciple...

Auburn fans know all too well the up-and-down nature of this SEC program. It may be every bit the traditional power, but its two biggest rivals just so happen to be Alabama and Georgia, two of the game's best programs of all time. Yes, you can win a national championship at Auburn. This is why Golesh picked Auburn over SEC jobs. However, he has to look back on his Tennessee time even more.

Golesh finds himself in a very precarious spot. Was he not in the same situation some five years ago? Only this time, he is in the big chair and making the big move. What he and Heupel did in Orlando did translate effectively at Tennessee. The big question now is to what degree will what worked in Tampa effectively translate at Auburn? That is what everybody and their brother is eager to find out this fall.

Golesh seems to have enough meaningful experience that he is not going to be overwhelmed by this.

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