Pete Golding Steps Into the Spotlight, But His Eyes Are Locked on Tulane
Pete Golding has climbed the coaching ladder for years, grinding through the ranks and earning respect as a defensive mind. Now, he's at the top - the new head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels - and he’s stepping into that role at one of the most high-stakes moments in program history. But if you’re expecting Golding to soak in the moment or reflect on how far he’s come, think again.
With the No. 6 Rebels preparing for their first-ever College Football Playoff matchup against No.
11 Tulane, Golding doesn’t have time to look in the rearview mirror. The stakes are too high, and the timeline too tight.
This opportunity came fast. Lane Kiffin’s departure - after leading Ole Miss to an 11-1 season - opened the door.
Kiffin took the LSU job, and suddenly, Golding went from defensive coordinator to the man in charge. It's the biggest opportunity of his coaching life, but Golding isn’t treating it like a personal milestone.
He’s treating it like a job that needs to be done - and done right now.
“I think when you start getting caught up in moments and start taking pictures and do all that, your focus is on the wrong thing,” Golding said at a recent press conference.
That’s not just coach speak - it’s a clear message. This isn’t about a career milestone or a feel-good story.
It’s about preparing a team for the biggest game of their season. Maybe the biggest in school history.
Golding’s approach is all business, and that mindset might be exactly what this team needs. The Rebels have already shown they can block out distractions.
They finished the regular season on a five-game win streak, all while swirling in rumors about Kiffin’s future. That kind of focus doesn’t happen by accident - it’s built into the culture.
And now it’s Golding’s job to keep it going.
The Rebels are a talented, balanced squad, and they’ve shown they can respond to adversity. If they take on Golding’s no-nonsense, hyper-focused mentality, they’re going to be a tough out in the playoff.
Tulane may be a Group of Five team, but they didn’t land in the CFP by accident. Ole Miss can’t afford to overlook them - and Golding knows it.
“I’m not trying to enjoy anything,” he said. “I’m trying to prepare extremely hard and get a good plan in place for these players and hold them accountable to practice the right way and prepare the right way to give them the best chance.”
That’s the tone of a coach who understands the moment - not just for himself, but for the players, the program, and the path ahead. There will be time for reflection later.
Maybe after the final whistle of the season. Maybe after a playoff run.
But not now.
Right now, it’s all about Tulane.