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Pete Golding reveals details about Lane Kiffin departure, promotion to Ole Miss coach
TL;DR
Pete Golding discussed his unexpected promotion to head coach of Ole Miss following Lane Kiffin's departure to LSU after the 2025 season. Golding, previously the defensive coordinator, was announced as the permanent head coach on the same day Kiffin left.
Pete Golding reveals details about Lane Kiffin departure, promotion to Ole Miss coach
OXFORD â Ole Miss football coach Pete Golding revealed details about the week that led to him getting his first head coaching job. He was in the dark for much of it.
Golding joined ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy's "Always College Football" podcast on April 13.
The pair discussed former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin's departure for LSU on Nov. 30 after the 2025 regular season. Golding, the former Ole Miss defensive coordinator, was announced as the Rebels permanent head coach the same day. It's the first time Golding, 42, has been a head coach.
Golding said he rode with Kiffin in a van from Starkville to Oxford after the 2025 Egg Bowl on Nov. 28. With Florida and LSU rumors swirling, Golding still couldn't get a bead on Kiffin's plans.
"I still couldn't get a real feel, because I was with him the whole time," Golding said on the podcast. "It was like, 'Hey, Tuesday I'm going to Florida. Wednesday I'm going to LSU. Thursday I'm staying.' I still didn't have a real feel."
Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter clued Golding in on the night of Nov. 29.
"Saturday night I got the call from Keith saying, 'Kiff has decided to go elsewhere. Let's meet at 7:30 (Sunday morning)'" Golding said.
From there, things moved quickly. Golding said he was called into another meeting on Sunday afternoon at 12:20 p.m. with Carter and Glenn Boyce, the Ole Miss chancellor.
Golding said some other names were floated as head coach options, but he was told he was the guy they wanted.
"I was like, 'I don't really want to work for somebody else at this point in my career. Let's just do this,'" Golding said. "I didn't ask how much, I didn't ask how many years. I just went straight over to the building and started recruiting some offensive staff."
Ole Miss won two CFP games under Golding following Kiffin's departure. The Rebels beat Tulane 41-10 in the first round and then beat Georgia 39-34 in the Sugar Bowl.
Ole Miss' season ended vs Miami in the Fiesta Bowl 31-27 as the Rebels made it to the semifinals in their first College Football Playoff.
It didn't take long for Golding to adjust to his role as the head coach. He will coach against Kiffin and LSU in 2026 on Sept. 19.
"After five days of being into it I was like, 'Man I wish I would have done this a long time ago.' With the ability to impact people around you and those type of things," Golding said.
Ole Miss is in the middle of Golding's first spring practice as head coach.
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Pete Golding, Ole Miss coach reveals details on Lane Kiffin departure
Q&A
What led to Lane Kiffin's departure from Ole Miss to LSU?
Lane Kiffin departed Ole Miss for LSU after the 2025 regular season, marking a significant change in the coaching landscape.
When was Pete Golding announced as the head coach of Ole Miss?
Pete Golding was announced as the permanent head coach of Ole Miss on November 30, the same day Lane Kiffin left for LSU.
How is Pete Golding's coaching experience prior to becoming head coach?
Pete Golding, at 42 years old, was previously the defensive coordinator at Ole Miss before being promoted to head coach.