PETE GOLDING takes over for LANE KIFFN, as permanent Mississippi coach

Tuesday, December 2, 2025 -Pete Golding has been officially promoted to full‑time head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels, following the departure of Lane Kiffin, who accepted a job at LSU. The announcement came shortly after Kiffin’s exit — and the promotion is permanent, not a temporary fix.

Golding, 41, had served as Ole Miss’s defensive coordinator and inside linebacker coach since 2023, and before that spent several seasons at Alabama from 2018‑2022. This will be his first job as head coach.

The promotion comes as Ole Miss — ranked No. 6 with an 11‑1 record — heads into the College Football Playoff. The school’s athletic director described Golding as “the guy” to lead the team through this critical stretch. The emphasis will be on continuity, stability, and renewed leadership under Golding’s defensive‑minded, disciplined style.