Alex Golesh - Football Coach - Iowa State University Athletics

Alex Golesh

Title:
Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator
Email:
agolesh@iastate.edu
Phone:
4-6721

Alex Golesh is in his fourth season at Iowa State as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator, reuniting with head coach Matt Campbell.

Golesh and Campbell were assistants on Toledo’s staff from 2009-11.

Behind Golesh's efforts, ISU’s recruiting has sky-rocketed, recording four of the best classes in school history.

The last four Cyclone recruiting classes have all ranked in the nation’s top-50, including a pair of top-40 classes. The 2019 Iowa State recruiting class is the best in school history according to 247Sports, ranking No. 39 nationally and compiling a program-best .8550 composite rating.

Golesh has mentored a pair of all-conference performers in each of the last two seasons, as the Cyclones have recorded a pair of 8-5 seasons and back-to-back bowl berths.

In 2018, the Cyclone broke their school record for conference victories in a season (6), tying for third in the Big 12 for the best conference finish 40 years.

The production at tight end has been a big part of ISU’s success, as Sam Seonbuchner was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection for the second year in a row and freshman Charlie Kolar was a Second-Team All-Big 12 pick during the 2018 campaign.

Kolar had three touchdown catches as a rookie, tying for third on ISU’s freshman record list.

Chase Allen was a Second-Team All-Big 12 selection in 2017, as ISU posted one of its best seasons in the history of the program. The Cyclones compiled an 8-5 record, the second-most wins in school history, and scored a victory in the 2017 Liberty Bowl over Memphis, only the fourth bowl win in the history of the program.

Iowa State also broke its school record for wins over ranked opponents (3), victories on the road (5) and appeared in the AP national rankings for the first time in 12 years.

Golesh previously was an assistant coach at Illinois where he was the tight ends coach in 2013 and 2015, and worked with the Illini running backs/tight ends in 2014. He was also recruiting coordinator from 2012-14, the special teams coordinator in 2015 and worked the specialists all four years.

Golesh helped running back Josh Ferguson rank among the nation’s top all-purpose backs in 2014. He was one of only seven players in the nation with over 700 rushing yards and over 400 receiving yards. A preseason Doak Walker Award candidate, Ferguson had 1,162 yards from scrimmage in 2014 (735 rushing, 427 receiving) and recorded 10 TDs on the season (8 rushing, 2 receiving).

Golesh guided a productive group of tight ends that combined for 52 catches, 545 yards and eight touchdowns in 2013, including four touchdowns against Miami (Ohio), the most tight end TDs in a game in school history. He also helped punter Justin DuVernois to a solid season, as the junior posted a 41.1 yard-per-punt average with 10 over 50 yards and 13 downed inside the 20.

Golesh, who was named a top-10 recruiter in the Big Ten by Rivals.com and Scout.com in 2013 and 2015, guided DuVernois to a strong sophomore campaign in 2012 as he ranked fourth in the Big Ten in punting with a 41.9 yard-per-punt average, with a long of 72 yards, 16 fair catches, 19 punts downed inside the 20 yard line and 15 punts of 50 or more yards.

Golesh was on staff at Toledo for three years from 2009-2011, serving as both the tight ends coach and the recruiting coordinator. Golesh aided the UT program in securing the No. 1 recruiting class in the Mid-American Conference in consecutive years. The 2010 UT class was No. 1 according to Rivals.com, while both Rivals and Scout.com rated the 2011 class No. 1.

Golesh’s tight ends served as key blockers in a Rocket rushing attack that ranked No. 3 in the MAC in both 2010 and 2011. In 2009, Golesh coached the running backs at Toledo, helping senior running back DaJuane Collins earn third-team All-MAC honors.

Prior to going to Toledo, Golesh spent three seasons as a graduate assistant, two at Northern Illinois (2006-07) and one at Oklahoma State. Golesh worked with the outside linebackers at Oklahoma State in 2008, helping the Cowboys to a 9-4 record and a berth in the Holiday Bowl. At NIU, Golesh worked for one season assisting with the secondary and one season with the offensive line, helping the Huskies make the 2006 Poinsettia Bowl.

Golesh got his start in the coaching business as a student assistant coach while attending Ohio State as an undergraduate. He spent 2 ½ years aiding the Buckeyes’ defensive coaches, with responsibilities that included working with the defensive line. During his time at Ohio State, the Buckeyes claimed the 2005 Big Ten Championship and went on to earn a victory in the Fiesta Bowl over Notre Dame. OSU also posted a win in the 2004 Alamo Bowl over Oklahoma State.

Golesh also spent one year as a defensive line coach in a first-year football program at newly opened Westerville Central High School in 2003.

Golesh was born in Moscow, Russia, but grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Dublin, Ohio, where he was a three-year letterwinner in football at Dublin Scioto High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio State in 2006.

Golesh and his wife, Alexis, have a daughter, Corbin, and a son, Barrett.

Coaching Experience
2016- Iowa State – Tight Ends, Recruiting Coordinator
2015 Illinois – Tight Ends, Special Teams Coordinator
2014 Illinois – Running Backs, Tight Ends, Recruiting Coordinator
2012-13 Illinois – Tight Ends, Recruiting Coordinator, Specialists
2010-11 Toledo – Tight Ends, Recruiting Coordinator, Specialists
2009 Toledo – Running Backs, Recruiting Coordinator, Specialists
2008 Oklahoma State – Graduate Assistant
2006-07 Northern Illinois – Graduate Assistant
2004-05 Ohio State – Student Assistant
2003 – Westerville Central (OH) H.S. – Assistant

Mic'd Up With Alex Golesh

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