Auburn turned the page on Hugh Freeze when it became clear the program was stuck in place. Freeze was hired to stabilize the Tigers and rebuild recruiting momentum. He did that to a degree, but on-field results never followed.
By midseason, it was evident that Auburn needed a different direction, not another year of waiting. Alex Golesh was brought in to represent that reset. Auburn didn’t hire him to maintain the status quo; they wanted a structure, more clarity on the future, and a new approach at the helm.
Golesh arrived with a clear plan and wasted little time putting it into action. One of his first priorities was reshaping the coaching infrastructure, not just filling roles but redefining how Auburn operates day to day.
That shift became more obvious with the hiring of Larry Scott as tight ends coach. Scott arrives from Howard, where he served as head coach, and brings prior SEC experience from stops at Florida and Tennessee.
Auburn is expected to hire Howard head coach Larry Scott as its tight ends coach, sources tell @CBSSports.
Before Howard, Scott was tight ends coach at Florida and coached Kyle Pitts. Prior to that, was offensive coordinator at Tennessee and tight ends coach at Miami. pic.twitter.com/YxyuFp6Tgc
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 15, 2025
Golesh added a coach who has led programs, developed NFL talent, and understands the demands of the league Auburn plays in. Moving a sitting head coach into a position role also signals intent.
Scott’s addition fits a broader pattern. Golesh has leaned toward coaches with defined resumes and clear responsibilities. The staff blends offensive familiarity from his previous stops with experienced defensive leadership retained at Auburn.
Compared to the Freeze era, the difference is visible. Freeze leaned heavily on recruiting reputation and star power. Golesh is leaning into process and structure. Chasing quick fixes wasn’t going to help Auburn in the long run, and the understanding of that problem is evident in the way Golesh is going about his business.
Hugh Freeze’s Heath Struggle Added Context to His Exit
Hugh Freeze’s dismissal also came during a challenging personal stretch away from football. Earlier this year, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, a condition doctors described as manageable, but one that still required treatment and close monitoring.
Despite those circumstances, Freeze remained committed to coaching throughout the year. However, the long hours, constant scrutiny, and emotional weight of a disappointing campaign appeared to compound the strain on his health.
“In some twisted way, there’s a relief factor for me personally because I’ve watched my dad’s health just deteriorate over this,” Freeze’s daughter, Madi, SAID in a TikTok video. “Other people can see it, I know y’all can see it, he’s not healthy.”
In the video, Freeze’s daughter Madi spoke openly about the toll the situation had taken, saying there was “a sense of relief” now that he is no longer coaching, as she had watched his health worsen throughout the season.
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