- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Takeo Spikes Praises New Auburn Coach Alex Golesh's Vision
Former Tigers star linebacker says Golesh "totally changed" his perception of the program's future.
Mar. 22, 2026 at 12:34pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Takeo Spikes, a former Auburn and NFL linebacker, had a sit-down meeting with new Tigers head coach Alex Golesh. Spikes initially went into the meeting with some skepticism, but he says Golesh's clear vision and plan for rebuilding the Auburn program "totally changed" his perception. Spikes was impressed by Golesh's commitment to embracing the school's history and traditions, as well as his detailed strategy for building the team year-by-year.
Why it matters
Auburn is coming off a disappointing 2025 season, and the fanbase is eager to see the program return to prominence. Spikes' positive impression of the new coach suggests Golesh may be the right person to lead that turnaround and reconnect with the school's storied past.
The details
Golesh, who previously served as the head coach at USF, has already made some key additions to the Auburn roster by bringing in players like quarterback Byrum Brown, wide receivers Chas Nimrod and Jeremiah Koger, and running back Nykahi Davenport. Early reports from spring practice also indicate a renewed focus on "demanding greatness" from the players. Golesh's intense, structured approach seems to signal a significant cultural shift for the program.
- Golesh was hired as Auburn's new head coach in January 2026.
- Spikes met with Golesh this week to discuss the new coach's vision for the program.
The players
Takeo Spikes
A former Auburn and NFL linebacker who is one of the greatest players to ever wear the Tigers' uniform.
Alex Golesh
The new head coach of the Auburn Tigers, hired in January 2026 after previously serving as the head coach at USF.
What they’re saying
“I went in thinking, okay, 'I just hope he doesn't regurgitate what all the other past head coaches have done,'' Spikes said. 'And that was, 'Hey, we want to bridge the gap. We want the legends around. We want to change this.''”
— Takeo Spikes, Former Auburn Linebacker
“But after I walked away and just sitting down with him… it totally changed my perception of him. Not that it was bad at first, but it really brought me into the process.”
— Takeo Spikes, Former Auburn Linebacker
What’s next
Golesh will continue to implement his vision for the Auburn program during spring practice, as the Tigers look to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season.
The takeaway
Takeo Spikes' positive impression of new Auburn coach Alex Golesh suggests the program may be on the verge of a cultural reset that could help restore the Tigers to their former glory. Golesh's commitment to embracing Auburn's storied history and building the team year-by-year has won over a respected former player, raising hopes for a turnaround in 2026 and beyond.
