Auburn native and Pro Football Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware has shared his thoughts on Auburn’s decision to appoint Alex Golesh as the Tigers’ new head football coach, while also revealing that he still feels disconnected from the university because it never offered him a scholarship during his high school career.
Speaking ahead of the 2026 American Century Championship at the Caesars Celebrity Pro-Am in Stateline, Nevada, Ware admitted he does not closely follow Auburn football despite growing up in the city. The former seven-time All-Pro pass rusher and Super Bowl champion explained that his loyalty remains with Troy University, the only Division I program that believed in him coming out of high school.
Ware, who became one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history after starring at Troy, said Auburn’s decision not to recruit him still influences his connection to the program. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the significance of the Tigers’ latest coaching transition and the impact it could have on both the football team and the surrounding community.
“You know what? I don’t even follow the university. I’m from Auburn. They didn’t offer a scholarship,” Ware said. “If you ask me anything about Troy University, I can tell you. About the coaching and everything.”
Although he admitted he knows little about Golesh’s football philosophy, Ware emphasized that a coaching change at Auburn carries enormous importance for the university and the entire Lee County community.
He compared the arrival of a new head coach to the election of a new political leader, saying such appointments often introduce a fresh vision, new expectations and significant organizational change. According to Ware, the extensive search process Auburn undertook before hiring Golesh suggests the university is committed to moving the football program in a different direction.
Ware believes every major coaching appointment inevitably reshapes a team’s culture, noting that players, coaches and staff must all adapt once a new leader takes charge.
Golesh has already begun establishing his authority since arriving at Auburn, with early decisions—including the dismissal of wide receiver Duke Smith—signaling a tougher, more disciplined approach. Many Auburn supporters hope the cultural shift will translate into improved performances after several disappointing seasons under the previous coaching regime.
Ware’s comments also revisited one of the biggest recruiting oversights in Auburn football history. Despite starring at Auburn High School, the future NFL legend never received a scholarship offer from Auburn. Another local standout, Osi Umenyiora, experienced a similar snub before also attending Troy. Both players went on to enjoy outstanding NFL careers, leaving many to wonder what might have been had Auburn recruited them.
During a 2023 appearance on the “OutKick 360” podcast, Ware recalled that Troy was the only Division I school willing to offer him a scholarship. At the time, he was a 185-pound wide receiver who ran the 40-yard dash in approximately 4.7 seconds and had yet to develop into the dominant defensive force the football world would later recognize.
Troy’s coaching staff envisioned Ware as a defensive end rather than a receiver, a move that transformed his career. Over four years, he grew three inches, added roughly 50 pounds of muscle and dramatically improved his speed, eventually running a 4.3-second 40-yard dash.
The physical transformation, combined with Troy’s development program, helped Ware become one of college football’s premier defenders before launching an illustrious NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys and later the Denver Broncos, where he won a Super Bowl championship. He was eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Looking back, Ware has said the disappointment of being overlooked by Auburn and nearly every other Football Bowl Subdivision program became a powerful source of motivation. That determination ultimately fueled a Hall of Fame career, while Auburn is left to reflect on what many consider one of its greatest recruiting misses. With Golesh now leading the Tigers into a new era, the program hopes its latest chapter will produce better decisions, stronger culture and improved results on the field.
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