Pete Golding Retains Play-Calling Duties at Ole Miss

Pete Golding, the newly appointed head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels, has decided to continue calling defensive plays for the team. This decision was influenced by a conversation with Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables, who encouraged Golding to leverage his strengths as a defensive strategist. Golding, who previously served as the defensive coordinator under Nick Saban at Alabama, expressed initial hesitation about taking on a head coaching role without relinquishing play-calling responsibilities. However, Venables' advice helped solidify Golding's resolve to remain actively involved in the defense.

ESPNBrent Venables helped convince Pete Golding to run Ole Miss defense

Golding was promoted to head coach of Ole Miss on November 30, following Lane Kiffin's departure to LSU. He has built a reputation as one of the top defensive coaches in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) over nearly two decades. During his tenure at Alabama from 2018 to 2022, Golding contributed to three SEC championships and a national title in 2020. In the 2024 season, Golding's defense at Ole Miss led the nation in sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120), while also allowing only 80.5 rushing yards per game, marking the fewest since 1966.

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While Golding has retained play-calling duties, he has also appointed Bryan Brown as the official defensive coordinator. Golding noted that Brown has been instrumental in managing the defensive unit, allowing Golding to focus on recruiting and other responsibilities. This collaborative approach enables Golding to prepare effectively for practices while ensuring that the defense remains competitive.

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Golding articulated his initial reluctance to take a head coaching position, stating, “Originally that's why I didn't want to take a head job... I was going to be more of a CEO and kind of give that piece up.” However, his dialogue with Venables shifted his perspective, reinforcing his commitment to play-calling. He emphasized the importance of surrounding himself with capable individuals to manage the team's operations effectively.

Brent Venables helped convince Pete Golding to run Ole Miss defense

Despite Golding's confidence in his decision, some critics argue that head coaches should focus more on overarching team management rather than specific play-calling. This perspective suggests that a head coach's effectiveness may diminish if they are too involved in one aspect of the game.

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As Golding prepares for the upcoming 2026 season, he aims to build on the success of the previous year and lead Ole Miss back to the College Football Playoff. The Rebels are currently projected to have a 38% chance of qualifying for the playoffs, according to prediction markets.

Brent Venables helped convince Pete Golding to run Ole Miss defense

“He's just like, 'Look, you got that job for a lot of reasons, but the primary reason is you've always done a really good job with the defense, and if you're able to do that, you need to continue to do that,'” — Pete Golding, Head Coach, Ole Miss

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“Originally that's why I didn't want to take a head job, because I had it in my mind when I was going to take a job I was going to be tired of calling plays and running a room and going on the road and I was going to be more of a CEO and kind of give that piece up,” — Pete Golding, Head Coach, Ole Miss

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