Auburn officially announced that DJ Durkin will remain the defensive coordinator under the new Alex Golesh led staff. Golesh has been known for his offensive prowess at every stop including being the offensive coordinator at Tennessee where he helped run some of the best offenses in the country in his time there however he has not been known for his defense even as a head coach at South Florida. With that being the case it is well known that Golesh would need to get a strong defensive mind to run his defense on the staff and it just so happens that Durkin is already in house and will remain that guy going forward.
"Choosing to keep DJ on our staff was an easy call," head coach Golesh said referencing the decision. "Our relationship goes back more than 20 years to our roots in Ohio, we have worked with some of the same men, and we’ve competed against each other in this great league. We are fortunate to retain one of the top defensive minds in college football here on The Plains. He's an elite leader, incredible father and husband and will be phenomenal leader on the defensive side of the ball. We have great respect for each other. Time to go to work."
Durkin was not only an easy hire given his track record throughout the season coaching one of the better defenses in the conference but also his relationship with the team. Many of the players have spoken on his behalf on both social media and in press conferences about their respect and loyalty they have toward him. Durkin will aid in looking retaining much of the teams defensive talent along with giving the returning players a sense of continuity.
"Coach Golesh and I have known each other long time," coach Durkin said referring to Golesh, "and I’ve got a lot of respect for him, his teams and the way they work. I’m excited about what he’s going to bring to Auburn and grateful for the chance to work alongside him. I love this group of players, and it mattered to me to keep pushing forward with what they have already started. The support my family and I have felt from the Auburn community has been unbelievable. This is home for us. I’m thankful for the Auburn Family and everything they’ve shown us over the last month, and I can’t wait to get to work."
The Auburn Tigers certainly have lots of work to do but this is major step in the right direction as they look to move towards retaining and bringing talent while seeking to turn the program around.
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Reid is a sophomore majoring in accounting. He joined the Plainsman in the fall of 2024.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @ReidFarris2
