It was only a matter of time before Alex Golesh took another job. The USF Bulls head coach rose up coaching boards at multiple schools, and his name’s been linked to those programs for a while now. So it wasn’t a surprise when Auburn made it official.
Golesh takes over for Hugh Freeze, who was fired after failing to live up to expectations. Now the Bulls must replace one of the better coaches they’ve had in program history, but they should be an attractive landing spot for multiple candidates.
Charles Huff, Southern Miss
This might not be a name that Bulls fans are familiar with, but Charles Huff continues to elevate any program he runs. He took Marshall to new heights at the FBS level, and in just one season at Southern Miss, he had the Golden Eagles in contention for a Sun Belt championship.
His reputation as an elite recruiter follows him, and he’s shown that he can do it at any level. He also understands how to use the transfer portal to supplement his roster, and his 39-25 record as a head coach proves that he’s a winner.
Sean Lewis, San Diego State
Someone’s going to get Sean Lewis to leave San Diego State. It’s just a matter of time. The Aztecs head coach had them atop the Mountain West in his second season, and he’s already shown that he can win at multiple places.
At Kent State and San Diego State, he has also demonstrated his ability to build a strong staff. While his offense hasn’t been the most explosive this year, defensive coordinator and Broyles Award nominee Rob Aurich has the Aztecs’ defense as a Top 10 unit in the country.
If Bulls fans are worried about the offense slipping, Lewis is a proven commodity in that department. His offenses have historically made life difficult for any opponent, and he has proven to be adaptable to his personnel as well.
Ricky Rahne, Old Dominion
Rickt Rahne’s record won’t be the most impressive of any candidate looking to take over the Bulls program, but context makes it more remarkable. Until this year, the transfer portal ravaged the Monarchs’ roster. Rahne’s ability to reload and put Old Dominion in bowl contention speaks to his talent development skills and utilization of the transfer portal.
Unfortunately for USF, they’ll be in the same situation with Golesh leaving. So they’ll need someone who understands how to use the portal efficiently and bring the right guys in to replace the departures.
Lance Taylor, Western Michigan
A little out of the box, but Lance Taylor’s work at Western Michigan will land him a bigger job somewhere. The Broncos were in a tough place when he took over, but Taylor made improvements each year and has them at the top of the MAC this season.
He brings plenty of coaching experience with him, and even has ties to the NFL. He understands how to identify talent, and he’ll be around plenty of it in South Florida. That’s something that not many other candidates will bring to the table.
Dan Mullen, UNLV
Dan Mullen’s done a good job in his return to coaching, and UNLV sits 10-2 on the year thanks to him. If the Bulls want a bigger name that’s familiar to many, Mullen will be high on their list. He’s a great offensive mind who will be around tons of talent to bring into his program.
His time at Florida might scare some teams away, but it’s hard to deny his ability to coach an offense. He did a solid job of bringing in impactful talent from the transfer portal this year too, something the Bulls will need early in his tenure.
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