OXFORD, Miss. — As Pete Golding continues assembling his first staff at Ole Miss, one of his latest moves adds a coach with a long track record of offensive production and receiver development. The Rebels have brought in L’Damian Washington to oversee the wide receiver room, adding another experienced voice to the offensive side of the ball.
Washington arrives in Oxford following a stop at Kentucky, where he spent the 2024 season on Mark Stoops’ staff. With changes coming to the Wildcats’ offensive structure, Ole Miss moved quickly to bring Washington in — placing him in charge of one of the most talent-rich position groups on the roster.
Before returning to the SEC, Washington built a strong reputation under Alex Golesh at South Florida, where his influence was felt immediately. During his time in Tampa, the Bulls underwent one of the most dramatic turnarounds in program history, improving by six wins and closing the season with a dominant shutout victory over Syracuse in the Boca Raton Bowl. That season saw USF rewrite its record books, setting 12 team records and 16 individual marks, while finishing among the nation’s top offenses.
Washington’s work with receivers has consistently translated to on-field results. At USF, he coached Sean Atkins, a former walk-on who developed into the most productive receiver in school history, finishing his career with 160 receptions. Atkins recorded at least four catches in 24 of 25 games dating back to 2023 — a level of consistency unmatched nationally over that stretch.
His résumé also includes a stint at Oklahoma, where he was part of an offense that averaged nearly 33 points per game and more than eight yards per pass attempt. Under Washington’s guidance, Marvin Mims Jr. emerged as one of the most explosive receivers in the country, earning First Team All-Big 12 honors after surpassing 1,000 yards and ranking among national leaders in yards per catch. Mims would later go on to make NFL history as just the second Denver Broncos rookie to earn both Pro Bowl and AP All-Pro honors in the same season.
Washington’s ties to the SEC run even deeper. As a player at Missouri, he was part of the Tigers’ 2013 SEC East championship team, serving as a team captain and finishing his career with over 1,700 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns — experience that continues to inform his coaching approach today.
Now, Washington steps into an Ole Miss wide receiver room built for production. While veterans De’Zhaun Stribling and Harrison Wallace III have completed their eligibility, the Rebels could return a strong core that includes Cayden Lee, Winston Watkins, Deuce Alexander, Caleb Cunningham, and Caleb Odom. It’s a group that blends youth, experience, and versatility — and one that fits seamlessly with Washington’s history of maximizing receiver talent.
For Golding, the hire reinforces a broader theme taking shape in Oxford: surround the program with coaches who have proven they can develop players, elevate offenses, and sustain success across multiple levels of college football. Washington’s track record suggests he’s well-equipped to do exactly that.
As Ole Miss prepares for the next chapter under Golding’s leadership, the wide receiver position remains in capable hands — and the expectations for production in Oxford remain unchanged.
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Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception. Email Evie at: Evie@TheRebelWalk.com
