Pete Golding - Football Coach - Ole Miss Athletics

Arkansas

Sep 13 (Sat)

6:00 PM

Pete Golding

Title:
Assistant Coach/Defensive Coordinator
Year at Ole Miss:
Third
Email:
rebelfootball@olemiss.edu
Phone:
662-915-7890
Alma Mater:
Delta State (2005)

Pete Golding joined Ole Miss as defensive coordinator in January 2023 after serving fives seasons at Alabama in the same capacity.

Golding put together one of the best all-around defenses in Ole Miss history in 2024, highlighted by one of the nation's most feared rush defenses and pass rush attack. The Rebels led the nation in sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120), with both standing as new program records. The Ole Miss defense stifled opponents to just 80.5 rushing yards per game, which ended the season ranked second in the FBS and was the fewest allowed by a Rebel defense since 1966.

Ole Miss held nine of its 13 opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing, six below 50 yards -- including a Gator Bowl record 44 yards allowed to Duke to close the season. Only two Rebel opponents broke 400 yards of total offense, while the Rebels held five to fewer than 300.

Leading the charge were first team All-Americans defensive tackle Walter Nolen and linebacker Chris Paul Jr., who were both among a seven-round NFL Draft record eight selections for Ole Miss. Nolen, the 14th consensus All-American in program history, was the first Rebel selected in the first round at No. 16 overall to the Arizona Cardinals, while other defensive draftees included cornerback Trey Amos (Round 2, Washington Commanders), defensive end Princely Umanmielen (Round 3, Carolina Panthers), Paul Jr. (Round 5, Los Angeles Rams) and defensive tackle JJ Pegues (Round 6, Las Vegas Raiders).

With the Rebels in 2023, Golding’s new defensive scheme helped propel Ole Miss to its first 11-win season in program history. The Landshark D led the SEC and ranked fifth in the FBS in turnover margin at +11 and stifled SEC defenses, holding Arkansas (288), Auburn (275) and Vanderbilt (229) to fewer than 300 total yards in consecutive games -- the first such streak at Ole Miss within the same season since 1993.

Golding’s squad was well-rounded, ranking within the top-35 nationally in sacks (19th, 2.7/game), TFL (29th, 6.3/game), passes intercepted (25th, 13 INTs) and scoring defense (34th, 22.1 PPG). Those 13 picks were the most by a Rebel defense since 2015, and the 35 Rebel sacks helped give Ole Miss at least 35 sacks in three straight seasons for the first time in program history.

The 2023 defense was led by three NFL Draft picks -- corner Deantre Prince (fifth round), edge Cedric Johnson (sixth round) and safety Daijahn Anthony (seventh round) -- as well as other returning stalwarts like defensive end and Peach Bowl Defensive MVP Jared Ivey, veteran safeties John Saunders Jr. and Trey Washington, and star freshman linebacker Suntarine Perkins.

In his five seasons leading the Crimson Tide defense, Alabama ranked top-20 in the FBS in scoring defense every year and finished top-10 in either scoring or total defense four times.

The 2022 Alabama defense again proved to be one of the best in the nation, ranking ninth in scoring defense (18.2) and 13th in total defense (318.2 ypg). The Crimson Tide allowed just 4.6 yards per play last season, which led the SEC and ranked No. 4 nationally.

Two-time Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner Will Anderson Jr., anchored Golding’s defense the last several seasons. Anderson became the first Alabama player ever to earn unanimous All-America honors after leading the SEC and finishing No. 11 in the country in sacks (10.0).

Alabama ranked fourth in rushing defense (86.0 ypg) and seventh in total defense (304.1 ypg) in 2021, while allowing just 20.1 points per game and holding opponents for a 31.1 percent conversion rate on third down, which was seventh nationally. Middle linebacker Henry To’oTo’o led the team with 112 tackles, while Anderson set the NCAA record (since 2000) for tackles for loss in a season with 34.5.

Golding’s 2020 defense led the SEC in scoring (19.0 ppg) and got better as the season progressed, allowing just 15 points per game over the final nine contests en route to the national championship. The Tide ranked third in the league in total defense and rushing defense while the pass efficiency defense also led the league and ranked 18th nationally.

Golding’s unit was devastated by injuries in 2019 and forced the staff into starting two true freshmen at the mike and will positions in the Tide’s base 3-4 scheme. Alabama still managed a top-20 defense, limiting opponents to just 324.4 yards and 18.6 points per game.

Alabama’s defense finished the 2018 season ranked third nationally in scoring (18.1 ppg) and 16th in total defense (319.5 ypg). The rushing defense was 19th nationally (121.3 ypg) while the pass efficiency defense ranked 23rd. Alabama also ranked 10th nationally in sacks per game at 3.0.

Prior to Alabama, Golding coached cornerbacks and handled defensive coordinator duties at the University of Texas-San Antonio in 2016 and 2017. Golding’s 2017 defense at UTSA ranked seventh in the Football Bowl Subdivision, allowing just 287.8 yards per game. The Roadrunners finished eighth in scoring defense (17.0 ppg), second in first downs defense (166) and 19th in pass efficiency defense (112.19).

In his first season with the Roadrunners in 2016, Golding helped lead the program to six wins and its first bowl game – the 2016 Gildan New Mexico Bowl. His defense set several school records, including single-season standards for tackles (934), TFLs (77), sacks (27) and QB hurries (38).

Golding joined the UTSA staff after spending two years as an assistant at Southern Miss where he coached the safeties. The Golden Eagles posted a six-win improvement in his second season, finishing 9-5 overall with a trip to the Heart of Dallas Bowl while winning the Western Division of Conference USA.

Prior to his time in Hattiesburg, Golding was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Southeastern Louisiana for two seasons (2012-13). He helped guide the Lions’ program to a school-record 11 wins and its first conference title (Southern) since 1961 with a 7-0 league record.

Before heading to Hammond, Golding was the defensive coordinator at his alma mater Delta State from 2010-11, leading the Statesman to the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship Game and the Gulf South Conference title.

He also spent three years on staff at Division II Tusculum, coaching the defensive backs while coordinating the defense the final two years as the Pioneers developed into a record-setting defensive unit under his direction.

Golding began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Delta State in 2006 after starting four seasons at safety for the Statesmen (2002-05). Golding graduated from Delta State in 2005 with a degree in business.

A native of Hammond, Louisiana, Golding and his wife Carolyn have three children, Braxton, Bentley and Bailey.