Pete Golding
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Stephen Thomas "Pete" Golding, born February 8, 1984, is an American football coach. He's currently the head football coach at the University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss. Before that, he was the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Ole Miss from 2023 to 2025. Golding also served as an assistant coach at several other universities, including the University of Alabama, the University of Texas at San Antonio, the University of Southern Mississippi, Southeastern Louisiana University, Delta State University, and Tusculum University.
During his playing days, Golding was a four-year starter at safety for the Delta State Statesmen from 2002 to 2005. He amassed 285 career tackles, ranking third in school history, and recorded nine career interceptions, placing him fourth. In 2004, he earned All-Gulf South Conference honors as a free safety, leading the team with 85 tackles, two interceptions, and eight pass break-ups. As a senior in 2005, he tallied 81 tackles, including five tackles-for-loss, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles.
Golding's coaching journey began in 2006 as a graduate assistant on Rick Rhoades' staff at Delta State. That season, the Statesmen went 12–3 and reached the NCAA Division II Semifinals.
At Tusculum College, Golding spent two years as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach under Frankie DeBusk. In 2007, he served as defensive backs coach, and in 2008, he became defensive coordinator. Under his guidance, the Pioneers' defense became explosive and record-setting. In 2007, Tusculum set a new school record with 14 interceptions, and in 2008, they led the SAC in sacks and turnovers forced, making an appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Returning to Delta State in 2010, Golding helped the Statesmen reach the NCAA DII National Championship game and secure their third Gulf South Conference title in four years, with an 11–4 overall record. Though they fell short in the championship game, Delta State's defense, known as the "Green Shirts," played a fast-paced style, leading to 19 interceptions and 27 forced fumbles. Led by Garrett Williams, who recorded 130 tackles and tied the school record for single-season interceptions with eight, the defense allowed 372.7 yards per game but tightened up in the postseason, surrendering less than 250 yards per game. Williams earned unanimous All-American honors that season, finishing with the third-highest single-season tackle total in DSU history.
As defensive coordinator for Southeastern Louisiana for two seasons, Golding saw the Lions achieve a program-record 11 wins in his final year, 2013, including a perfect 7–0 mark in Southland Conference play, leading to their first league title since 1961. Southeastern Louisiana reached the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in its first-ever appearance, with Golding's defense leading the Southland in both total and scoring defense.
At Southern Miss, the Golden Eagles saw a six-win improvement in Golding's second season. The team finished 9–5 overall in 2015, won the West Division of Conference USA with a 7–1 record, and appeared in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.
With the Roadrunners at UTSA, Golding helped the program achieve six wins and its first-ever bowl game, the 2016 Gildan New Mexico Bowl, in his first season. His defense set several school records, including single-season standards for tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, and quarterback hurries. Individually, linebacker Josiah Tauaefa broke UTSA's season record for tackles with 115, becoming the program's first Freshman All-American and earning Conference USA Freshman of the Year and first-team all-conference honors. Defensive end Marcus Davenport and safety Michael Egwuagu were named second-team all-conference, and safety Jordan Moore received honorable mention. In 2017, UTSA's defense ranked seventh nationally, allowing just 287.8 yards per game and eighth in scoring defense. The Roadrunners' improvement was significant, allowing 156 less yards and 16.8 fewer points per game in 2017 compared to 2015.
On December 15, 2017, University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced Pete Golding's hiring as a defensive assistant for the Crimson Tide in 2018. Golding traveled with the team for the College Football Playoff. For the 2018 season, he served as co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in February 2019 but faced struggles during the 2019 season. In 2020, he was part of the coaching staff during Alabama's national championship campaign. In February 2022, Golding was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.
On January 13, 2023, Ole Miss announced Golding's hiring as the new defensive coordinator for the Rebels. On November 30, 2025, Ole Miss promoted Golding to head coach following Lane Kiffin's departure to LSU.
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Stephen Thomas "Pete" Golding (born February 8, 1984) is an American football coach who is currently the head football coach at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). He previously served as the defensive coordinator and the inside linebackers coach at Ole Miss from 2023 to 2025. Golding was also an assistant coach at the University of Alabama, University of Texas at San Antonio, University of Southern Mississippi, Southeastern Louisiana University, Delta State University and Tusculum University.
== Playing career ==
Golding was a four-year starter for the Delta State Statesmen from 2002 to 2005 at safety, racking up 285 career tackles to rank third in school history while recording nine career interceptions to finish fourth. In 2004, the free safety garnered All-Gulf South Conference honors after leading the team with 85 tackles with two interceptions and eight pass break-ups. As a senior in 2005, he tallied 81 tackles with five tackles-for-loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
== Coaching career ==
Golding began his coaching career as a graduate assistant on former Delta State head coach Rick Rhoades' staff in 2006. The Statesmen went 12–3 that season and advanced all the way to the NCAA Division II Semifinals before falling to eventual national champion Grand Valley State.
=== Tusculum ===
Golding served for two years as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach under Frankie DeBusk at Tusculum College, a member of the South Atlantic Conference. Prior to being named defensive coordinator in 2008, Golding served as defensive backs coach in 2007.
The Pioneers became an explosive and record-setting defensive unit under Golding's direction. In 2007, TC set a new school record for interceptions with 14 and in 2008 TC lead the SAC in sacks and turnovers forced en route to an appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
=== Delta State ===
In Golding's first year back at Delta State in 2010, the Statesmen advanced to the NCAA DII National Championship game and their third Gulf South Conference title in four years with an 11–4 overall record and a 6–2 mark in the GSC. DSU fell short of their goal of winning the title on a last-second game-winning field goal by Minnesota-Duluth, 20–17.
Delta State's "Green Shirts" defense played a fast-paced and frenetic style that led the Statesmen to 19 interceptions and 27 forced fumbles. Led by Garrett Williams, who recorded 130 tackles and tied the school record interceptions in a season with eight, DSU allowed 372.7 yards per game, but bristled during the postseason surrendering less than 250 yards per game in postseason.
Under Golding's guidance, Williams closed his senior season as a unanimous All-American selection after finishing with the third highest single season tackles total in DSU history.
=== Southeastern Louisiana ===
The Hammond, Louisiana native spent two seasons as Southeastern Louisiana’s defensive coordinator. In his final year in 2013, the Lions won a program-record 11 contests, including a perfect 7–0 mark in Southland Conference play en route to their first league title since 1961. Southeastern Louisiana advanced to the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in its first-ever appearance and his defense led the Southland in both total and scoring defense.
=== Southern Miss ===
The Golden Eagles posted a six-win improvement in his second season. Southern Miss finished 9–5 overall, won the West Division of Conference USA with a 7–1 mark and made an appearance in the Heart of Dallas Bowl in 2015.
=== UTSA ===
In his first season with the Roadrunners, he helped lead the program to six wins and its first-ever bowl game, the 2016 Gildan New Mexico Bowl. His defense set several school records, including single-season standards for tackles (934), tackles for loss (77), sacks (27) and quarterback hurries (38). Individually, linebacker Josiah Tauaefa broke UTSA's season record for tackles with 115 en route to becoming the program's first Freshman All-American (Football Writers Association of America) and collecting Conference USA Freshman of the Year and first-team all-conference honors. Defensive end Marcus Davenport and safety Michael Egwuagu were named second-team all-conference and safety Jordan Moore was honorable mention.
Golding's 2017 defense ranked seventh in the Football Bowl Subdivision, allowing just 287.8 yards per game. The Roadrunners also finished eighth in scoring defense (17.0 ppg), second in first downs defense (166) and 19th in pass efficiency defense (112.19). UTSA's improvement during Golding's tenure was evident, as the Roadrunners allowed 156 less yards per game and 16.8 less point per game in 2017 compared 2015.
=== Alabama ===
University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced the hiring of Pete Golding on December 15, 2017, to serve as a defensive assistant for the Crimson Tide in 2018. Golding was traveling with the Crimson Tide for the College Football Playoff. For the 2018 season Golding was the co-defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach for the Tide.
He was promoted to defensive coordinator in February 2019. However he struggled during the 2019 season.
In 2020 he was a part of the coaching staff during the Tide's national championship campaign.
In February 2022, Golding was arrested by Northport, Alabama police and charged with driving under the influence.
=== Ole Miss ===
On January 13, 2023, Ole Miss announced that Golding had been hired as the new defensive coordinator for the Rebels.
On November 30, 2025, Ole Miss promoted Golding to head coach following Lane Kiffin's departure to LSU.
== Head coaching record ==
=== College ===
== References ==
== External links ==
Ole Miss Rebels profile
Alabama Crimson Tide profile
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