John Cohen made a notably telling statement about the future of Alex Golesh, speaking with clear confidence that the first-year head coach will still be leading the Auburn Tigers when they host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2028.
During a radio appearance, Cohen discussed Auburn’s upcoming home-and-home series with Notre Dame set to begin in 2027 in South Bend before shifting to Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2028 and framed Golesh as a central figure in those future matchups. He emphasized that Golesh is already excited about the opportunity, noting that the coach has been instilling a mindset within the program to embrace high-profile games against national powers. Cohen also pointed out the historic nature of the series, as it will mark the first-ever meetings on each program’s home field, adding extra significance for players, fans, and the program’s national profile.
Cohen’s remarks go beyond simple scheduling talk they signal belief in long-term stability under Golesh. Auburn has struggled to maintain continuity at head coach in recent years, with Bryan Harsin dismissed just eight games into his second season in 2022 and Hugh Freeze unable to produce the level of postseason success expected from the program. If Golesh remains in place through 2028, he would surpass both tenures, representing a major shift toward consistency on the Plains.
There is also added context behind Cohen’s optimism. Since becoming athletic director in 2022, his leadership has faced scrutiny, particularly as Auburn football has taken a step back competitively. While other programs like basketball and gymnastics have delivered memorable achievements, many of those successes came under coaches Cohen did not hire. Meanwhile, hires tied directly to him have yet to produce deep postseason runs, increasing pressure on football to deliver results.
Golesh’s hiring itself came after a competitive search process in which other candidates, including Jon Sumrall, were strongly considered. That background makes Golesh’s development even more important, as his success could validate Cohen’s decision-making and buy him valuable time as athletic director.
Ultimately, the 2027–2028 series against Notre Dame is shaping up as more than just a marquee non-conference matchup it’s becoming a symbolic checkpoint for Auburn’s program. Cohen’s comments suggest that the university is not only expecting Golesh to still be at the helm by then, but also counting on him to elevate the Tigers back into national relevance by the time one of college football’s most iconic programs comes to town.
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