At his final regular-season media briefing on Tuesday, University of South Florida head coach Alex Golesh appeared focused on his current team, despite widespread rumors linking him to other coaching positions.
Golesh first addressed the future of star quarterback Byrum Brown, who is weighing a return to USF for his final season of eligibility against declaring for the NFL draft. The coach emphasized that any decision would be made after the season ends.
“Byrum is going to play football for a really, really long time; he’s got a huge ceiling,” Golesh said. “Those conversations are for when the season ends. You sit down and you get real evaluations from professionals in that league. You consult with people that are professionals at it—us included—and you make the best choice.”
Brown possesses the size, experience, and athleticism of an NFL prospect, earning an elite 9.21 overall rating from Pro Football Focus. However, Golesh noted that the decision involves more than just individual readiness.
“The draft class has a lot to do with it. The need of specific teams in the draft has a lot to do with it,” he explained. “He’s going to be a pro for a really long time. It’s just a matter of, is it right now? Is it a year from now? He’ll make the right decision for him.”
Meanwhile, Golesh’s own name has been connected to several significant job openings, including those at Oklahoma State, Arkansas, and Auburn. USF is reportedly working diligently to retain the coach who has revitalized its football program.
Despite the speculation, Golesh’s remarks centered on his gratitude for his players, particularly the seniors who will be honored on Saturday.
“I tell these guys every Friday night how grateful I am for them,” he said. “Grateful for the guys that stayed, grateful for the guys that chose to come. When I got here, it wasn’t cool to stay; if you could get out, you were getting out.”
He credited the players who remained for establishing a new culture. “As guys developed into really good players and chose to stay, I think it speaks to our culture,” Golesh added. “It means that they bought into something bigger than themselves.”
After building the USF program from the ashes and establishing a highly-regarded recruiting class, Golesh’s apparent investment raises questions about whether he would depart for another rebuilding project. While a move to a school like Florida could be tempting, other potential openings at places like Auburn, Oklahoma State, and Arkansas would require another massive overhaul. As coaching vacancies across the country begin to fill, a decision on Golesh’s future may come soon.
Source link
