Keith Carter Pushes Back on Lane Kiffin’s Exit Narrative, Backs Pete Golding as New Ole Miss Head Coach
In the wake of Lane Kiffin’s high-profile move to LSU, Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter is setting the record straight - at least from his side of the story.
Carter spoke publicly for the first time since Kiffin’s departure, offering a detailed look at how things unfolded behind the scenes and why the program acted quickly to promote defensive coordinator Pete Golding to head coach. Speaking on SuperTalk Mississippi, Carter didn’t hold back when addressing some of the claims Kiffin made about his exit, particularly when it came to coaching in the College Football Playoff and the reaction from players.
Carter: “Coaching in the Playoff Was Never an Option”
Kiffin had said he only learned on Nov. 30 - the day he officially left - that he wouldn’t be allowed to coach Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff. But Carter painted a very different picture.
“There’s been a lot of things he’s said publicly that I’m not sure have been totally accurate,” Carter said. “I think that both coach and his representation knew several weeks ago that coaching in the playoffs was not an option if he was not going to be the Ole Miss head coach.”
That’s a significant claim. According to Carter, the idea that Kiffin was blindsided by the playoff coaching restriction doesn’t hold up - not when conversations had already taken place weeks in advance. The message from the athletic department was clear: if you're out, you're out.
Players’ Reactions: Not Exactly the “Begging” Kiffin Described
Kiffin also said that players in a Nov. 30 meeting urged him to stay, suggesting a strong emotional plea from the locker room. But Carter - and a few players themselves - pushed back on that narrative.
“I don’t think the way that he portrayed that meeting was accurate,” Carter said. “There was a lot of pushback to him leaving... I think begging for him to stay is certainly an overstatement.”
That’s in line with social media posts from players like center Brycen Sanders and linebacker Suntarine Perkins, who didn’t exactly echo Kiffin’s version of events. Carter didn’t elaborate too deeply, but he made it clear the team wasn’t as united in wanting Kiffin to stay as the coach suggested.
Why Ole Miss Promoted Pete Golding - No National Search Needed
As soon as Kiffin made it official, Ole Miss didn’t waste time. Rather than launch a national coaching search, Carter and Chancellor Glenn Boyce moved quickly to promote Pete Golding - a move Carter said was about keeping the team steady and focused.
“That was an option, to name an interim,” Carter said. “But the more myself and the Chancellor thought about it, why do that when we have the guy we know is the guy right in front of us?”
Golding, who joined Ole Miss in 2023 after a successful run as Alabama’s defensive coordinator from 2018 to 2022, was already a respected voice inside the building. According to Carter, the decision to elevate him wasn’t a fallback - it was a move they were confident in from the start.
“Pete’s a guy in that building that everybody respects. Not just the defense,” Carter said. “He’s got a great track record, coaching at Alabama and winning national championships.”
And while there was no formal search, Carter noted Golding would have been a serious candidate even if they had opened things up.
Keeping the CFP Picture Clean
With Ole Miss sitting at No. 6 in the most recent CFP rankings, the program had every reason to make sure things didn’t spiral after Kiffin’s departure. Carter said the school worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the playoff committee had all the information it needed - especially regarding who would be coaching the team.
That included announcing, on the morning of Dec. 2, which coaches would stay through the playoff. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. - who will follow Kiffin to LSU after the season - will remain with the Rebels through the postseason run.
“We were doing a ton of work behind the scenes, working with committee members,” Carter said. “Making sure that they had all the information on who was going to coach our team... couldn’t be more excited about coach Golding and him leading the way.”
What’s Next
The final College Football Playoff rankings and bracket will be released Dec. 7, and all signs point to Ole Miss hosting a first-round game on Dec. 19 or 20.
With Golding now officially at the helm and the playoff picture coming into focus, Carter’s message is clear: this isn’t a program in transition - it’s one that’s ready to compete, even after a coaching shake-up.