Golesh arrives in Knoxville after serving one season on Josh Heupel’s staff as the co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at UCF in 2020. Despite the challenges presented by the unique COVID-19 shortened season, the Knights shined offensively in Golesh’s first year, ranking second in the FBS in total offense (568.1), fourth in passing offense (357.4), seventh in total passing yards (3,574) and eighth nationally in scoring offense (42.2).
UCF earned a berth in the Boca Raton Bowl and multiple players earned postseason award recognition in Golesh’s lone season in Orlando. Marlon Williams was tabbed a third-team All-American by Pro Football Focus and a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award after averaging 129.9 receiving yards per game, good for fifth in the FBS. He also tallied 10 receiving touchdowns, which ranked seventh nationally.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel was a second-team All-AAC selection and a three-time AAC Offensive Player of the Week recipient. Gabriel ranked second in the FBS in total offense per game at 373.9, while leading the nation in passing yards per contest at 357.0.
Golesh also mentored a pair of NFL Draft picks at UCF. Wide receiver Jacob Harris, a former walk-on, blossomed into a top-level pass catcher for the Knights by his senior season. He finished the year with 30 catches for 539 yards and eight touchdowns. Harris was selected as a tight end in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. Meanwhile, wide receiver Tre Nixon was taken in the 2021 seventh round by the New England Patriots.
Golesh joined Heupel’s UCF staff after four successful seasons as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Iowa State from 2016-19. Behind Golesh's efforts, Iowa State's recruiting skyrocketed, recording four of the best classes in school history. The four Cyclone recruiting classes under his watch all ranked in the nation's top 50, including a pair of top-40 classes. The 2019 Iowa State recruiting class was the best in school history according to 247Sports, ranking No. 39 nationally and compiling a program-best .8550 composite rating.
Golesh was selected to the prestigious American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 35 Under 35 class of 2019. The program is aimed at identifying and developing premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession.
Golesh mentored all-conference performers at tight end in 2017, 2018 and 2019, as the Cyclones recorded a pair of 8-5 seasons and back-to-back bowl berths in 2017 and 2018. In 2018, Iowa State broke its school record for conference victories in a season (six), tying for third in the Big 12 for the best conference finish 40 years. In 2019, the Cyclones ended 7-6 after an appearance in the Camping World Bowl in Orlando, for their third consecutive bowl invitation.
In the season before Golesh came to Ames, Iowa State tight ends caught a combined five passes. In 2019, Cyclone tight ends caught 75 passes under his direction and played a pivotal role in the team’s success. Sophomore tight end starter Charlie Kolar caught 51 passes for 697 yards (most yards all-time by a Cyclone tight end in a season) and seven touchdowns, helping him earn second-team All-America honors from Pro Football Focus and first-team All-Big 12 recognition, as well as first-team Academic All-America notice. He also was a semifinalist for the Mackey Award as one of the nation’s top tight ends. Teammate Chase Allen earned second-team All-Big 12 honors as Golesh’s unit completed the rare feat of sweeping both All-Big 12 tight end awards. The tight production helped Iowa State rank 11th nationally and second in the Big 12 in passing offense at 311.3 yards per game.
Kolar as a freshman was a second-team All-Big 12 pick during the 2018 campaign, while Allen was a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2017.
Golesh previously was the tight ends coach at Illinois from 2013-15 and worked with the Illini running backs and tight ends in 2014. He was Illinois’ recruiting coordinator from 2012-14, the special teams coordinator in 2015 and worked with the specialists all four years.
Golesh was on staff at Toledo for three years from 2009-11, serving as both tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator. Golesh aided the Toledo program in securing the No. 1 recruiting class in the Mid-American Conference in consecutive years. The 2010 Rocket class was No. 1 in the league according to Rivals.com, while both Rivals and Scout.com rated the 2011 class No. 1. Toledo recorded back-to-back bowl appearances in his final two seasons.
Prior to going to Toledo, Golesh spent three seasons as a graduate assistant coach -- 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 Northern Illinois, Golesh worked for one season with the secondary and one with the offensive line, helping the Huskies make the 2006 Poinsettia Bowl.
