Ole Miss didn't wait long to name its next leader. Hours after Lane Kiffin officially departed for LSU, the Rebels announced that defensive coordinator Pete Golding will take over as the program's new head coach.
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OFFICIAL | Pete Golding Named Head Football Coach at Ole Miss@CoachGolding x #HottyToddy
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— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) November 30, 2025
And Ole Miss made it clear this is not a temporary move. There is no interim tag. This is Kiffin's permanent successor.
Golding has run the Rebel defense since 2023, building one of the SEC's most reliable units. Before arriving in Oxford, he spent five seasons as Nick Saban's defensive coordinator at Alabama, where his defenses finished top 10 in either scoring or total defense in four of those seasons.
The 41-year-old also has built-in Mississippi ties, having played at Delta State University in Cleveland.
The move signals a desire for continuity after Kiffin's exit created uncertainty within the building. Multiple reports have suggested Kiffin hoped to bring a sizable portion of the Ole Miss staff with him to Baton Rouge. Elevating Golding may help steady the ship and prevent an internal talent drain.
Golding's promotion also keeps a familiar voice at the center of a roster that has been built on both stability and high-level recruiting under Kiffin.
With Ole Miss posting one of the SEC's best defenses since Golding's arrival, the school is banking on that success translating to the big chair.
It's a quick transition for the Rebels, but a calculated one. Golding takes over a program with momentum, SEC roots and an immediate challenge: keeping Ole Miss intact during a turbulent coaching shuffle.
