Pete Golding named Head Coach of Ole Miss: ‘The future of Ole Miss football is brighter than ever’

OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss has moved swiftly to stabilize the program amid one of the most chaotic coaching departures in recent SEC memory. The Rebels have officially elevated defensive coordinator Pete Golding to head coach following Lane Kiffin’s decision to leave for LSU.

OFFICIAL | Pete Golding Named Head Football Coach at Ole Miss@CoachGolding x #HottyToddy

📰 https://t.co/62UAijwn2k pic.twitter.com/WHMFoxH65S

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) November 30, 2025

Statements from Ole Miss Director of Athletics Keith Carter:

“Coach Kiffin and I met yesterday, and he informed us that he is accepting the head coaching position at another school. For our program to begin preparing for its future – both the short and long term, he will be stepping away from the team immediately.

“With this development, we could not be more excited to announce Pete Golding as the next head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels. His tenure will begin immediately as he leads our program in the pursuit of a national title. Today’s team meeting was a clear indicator of his ability to galvanize our squad. All of our players and coaches are ecstatic and ready to lock arms for a playoff run.

“From the moment he arrived in Oxford, we quickly realized Pete is a coach who could not only lead a program but elevate it to championship status. He has demonstrated an exceptional football mind, but more than that, he has shown a deep understanding of our culture, values and what it means to be part of the Ole Miss family. Simply put, Pete is one of us.

“Pete’s leadership, relentless energy and proven track record of building top defenses have made a tremendous impact on our program. In addition, he recruits at an elite level and has shown an unwavering commitment to developing young men once they arrive on campus. He brings a vision rooted in toughness, innovation and accountability, and he is fully prepared to guide this program into its next era of success.

“I want to thank our student-athletes, our staff and Rebel Nation for their patience and support during this process. The future of Ole Miss Football is brighter than ever, and we look forward to taking the next steps in our program’s journey with Pete Golding at the helm.”

Keith Carter

Golding, who arrived in Oxford in 2023 after a five-year run as Alabama’s defensive coordinator under Nick Saban, immediately became the program’s top choice once it became clear the Kiffin era had come to an abrupt end. Ole Miss held a team meeting early Sunday afternoon, and players exiting the facility made it clear they were fully behind Golding taking over.

Several players exit the Manning Center and shout, “It’s the Pete Golding Era.”

Video: @Billykuhll, Rebel Walk pic.twitter.com/abXBKgnKdT

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) November 30, 2025

As for Golding, he issued the following statement:

“I would like to thank Keith Carter, Chancellor Boyce and the entire Ole Miss leadership team for placing their trust in me. Oxford is home, and it’s an incredible honor to lead one of the nation’s premier programs, and I can’t wait to get to work immediately and prepare this team to win a national championship.

“Ole Miss Football is special. Since the day I arrived, I’ve felt the passion, pride and unwavering support of Rebel Nation. This is a place where expectations are high, and football is woven into the fabric of the community.  Our mission moving forward is clear: we will play with toughness, discipline and relentless effort in everything we do. We will recruit at the highest level, develop our players on and off the field, and compete every single day to bring championships to Oxford. Most importantly, we will represent this university with class and integrity.

“To the Ole Miss family, thank you for your support and belief. I’m excited for what’s ahead, and I can’t wait to attack this challenge together.”

Pete Golding, Ole Miss head coach

Golding In — and No CFP Coaching Privileges for Kiffin

The transition unfolded rapidly. Earlier in the day, Chris Low reported that Ole Miss leadership informed Kiffin he would not be allowed to coach the Rebels in the College Football Playoff—even if he accepted the LSU job but wished to finish out the season in Oxford. Golding was designated the postseason leader, and by late afternoon, Ole Miss had moved from “interim” to full-time head coach.

Kiffin, meanwhile, made no secret of his displeasure. According to Low, he warned members of his offensive staff that if they did not join him immediately in Baton Rouge, they would not have a place on his future LSU staff. Multiple reports state that two planes sent for Kiffin’s family—which originally were scheduled to land in Tupelo—were rerouted to Oxford as the situation intensified.

What’s even more interesting is the report that Athletics Director Keith Carter thwarted Kiffin’s attempt to gut the offensive staff by offering those coaches DOUBLE their previous salary through the playoffs. This was initially reported by 247Sports’ Neal McCready. If that’s the case, once again, Keith Carter proves to be the actual one playing chess.

Golding Takes Over a CFP Team

For Golding, this is the biggest opportunity of his coaching career. The 39-year-old coordinator transformed Ole Miss’ defense into a top-40 unit nationally, allowing just 333.1 yards per game this season—a major leap forward for a program long defined by its offense.

His résumé includes stops at UTSA, Southern Miss, Southeastern Louisiana, and his alma mater, Delta State. Now, he inherits an 11–1 Ole Miss squad ranked No. 7 in the latest College Football Playoff standings with a chance to host a first-round game under the new 12-team format.

Kiffin Releases Statement Confirming His Exit

Shortly after news of his move broke, Kiffin issued a statement addressing both his departure and Ole Miss’ firm refusal to let him coach the team in the postseason.

pic.twitter.com/N2DWuu1NaM

— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) November 30, 2025

Kiffin departs Oxford with a 55–19 record, having delivered the first 11-win regular season in school history in 2025.

A New Era Begins

While the timing is jarring, Ole Miss wasted no time securing continuity for a roster preparing for the biggest postseason opportunity in program history. Players backed Golding. Administrators backed Golding. And now Golding officially becomes the face of the Rebels’ next chapter.

Ole Miss will learn its playoff placement shortly — but one thing is already certain:
Pete Golding, not Lane Kiffin, will lead the Rebels into the College Football Playoff.

The Golding File

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

His ability to make adjustments has been impressive. After the Rebels couldn’t get a single stop against Georgia earlier this season, Golding and his staff were able to re-group and send out a defensive unit that has, frankly, been key in the team’s 11-1 record. His recruiting prowess is widely known, and he would also stand a good chance of retaining players the Rebels don’t want to lose.

Simply put, Pete Golding is a seasoned defensive coordinator with extensive experience in the SEC.  His recruiting ties in the talent-rich states of Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia are second to none. He checks off boxes for both coaching and recruiting and is a selection players and fans, alike, are behind as Ole Miss closes the book on the Lane Kiffin era.