Pete Golding has done a helluva job since arriving in Oxford with one of the best defenses in the SEC last season at Ole Miss.
The Louisiana native who graduated from Delta State will now be paid $2.55 million annually making him the highest paid assistant in the SEC and second highest nationally, according to a report from the Clarion Ledger.
Golding truly earned his coaching stripes and climbed the ladder at Alabama under Nick Saban bringing him to national prominence. Tide fans were not happy with his work toward the end of his tenure there, because the defenses stats did not shatter every college football record ever. Thanks for being unhappy with greatness and driving Pete into Lane Kiffin’s arms.
Since arriving in Oxford in early 2023, his defenses have been historically great with last season’s rushing yards per game (80.5) ranking second in FBS and the best at Ole Miss since 1966. During the 2023 season when Ole Miss acheived its first ever 11-win season, Golding’s defense held three SEC opponents under 300 yards in a game in consecutive games for the first time since 1993.
This season will be the biggest test yet for the Ole Miss defense, however, as there are a ton of new faces on this roster and some names that you’ll recognize from previous years shoved into the spotlight. If his recent history and paycheck have any foreshadowing, Golding, his staff and his defense will be up to the challenge.
