Joel Gordon joined the Auburn football staff in December 2025. He currently serves as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks coach.
A 23-year veteran in the industry, Gordon comes to the Plains after serving under head coach Alex Golesh for three years at USF, first as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2023 before being promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for 2024-25.
In his three years at USF, Gordon helped lead the Bulls offense to more than 450 yards per game and 35.5 points per game in a 38-game stretch, highlighted by the 2025 team that finished the regular season ranked second in the country in total offense (501.7) and fourth in scoring offense (43.0).
Under Gordon’s tutelage, USF quarterback Byrum Brown amassed more than 7,000 career rushing yards and 2,000 career passing yards from 2023-25. Brown became just the 12th quarterback in FBS history to throw for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in 2025, joining the likes of Vince Young, Johnny Manziel and Lamar Jackson, among others. The signal caller also became USF’s first 3,000-yard passer in program history as a redshirt freshman in 2023.
Gordon arrived at USF after seven seasons at Iowa State, where he began as an offensive analyst in 2016 and worked his way up to passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2019-22. Also overlapping with Golesh for a period of time at Iowa State (2016-19), Gordon helped transform ISU from a 3-9 team into a program with five straight bowl appearances, a Big 12 title-game berth, and a New Year’s Six bowl win.
His tenure at Iowa State coincided with the most productive offensive stretch in Cyclone history. Working closely with quarterback Brock Purdy, Gordon helped develop the future NFL starter into ISU’s all-time wins and passing leader. Under his guidance, Iowa State posted several of its best seasons statistically, including record-setting total offense, scoring, and efficiency marks from 2019–21.
Before Iowa State, Gordon kickstarted his career with successful stops across Division II and Division III football. He spent two stints at his alma mater Shepherd University (2005-07, 2011-15), where he helped lead the Rams to multiple conference titles, three playoff runs, and a national championship appearance while mentoring all-conference quarterbacks and record-setting passers. He also served as the offensive coordinator at Emory & Henry (2008-10), where the team went 18-12 during his three seasons.
Gordon began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant and quarterbacks coach at North Carolina Wesleyan (2003-04).
Across every stop, he established a reputation for quarterback development, explosive offenses, and helping elevate programs to some of the most successful periods in their programs’ history.
A native of Waynesboro, Va., Gordon was a four-year starting quarterback and three-time team captain at Shepherd from 1999-2002. He earned all-conference honors and graduated with career records in passing yards (7,236), completions (522), total offense (7,677) and touchdown passes (66).
He earned his bachelor’s degree (2003) and master’s degree (2013) from Shepherd and was inducted into the Shepherd University Hall of Fame in 2013.
Gordon briefly played professional football as a quarterback for the Richmond Speed (Arena Football 2) and the Wintherthur Warriors, an American football team based in Switzerland.
He and his wife, Becca, have a daughter, Savanna, and a son, Noah.
COACHING HISTORY
2003-04: North Carolina Wesleyan, Offensive Graduate Assistant
2005-07: Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers Coach
2008-10: Emory & Henry (Va.), Offensive Coordinator
2011-15: Shepherd (W.V.), Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers Coach
2016: Ferrum (Va.), Offensive Coordinator (Hired, did not coach season)
2016-17: Iowa State, Offensive Analyst
2018: Iowa State, Quarterbacks
2019-22: Iowa State, Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2023: USF, Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2024-25: USF, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2026-: Auburn, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks