who is ole miss new coach

Pete Golding is the new head football coach at Ole Miss, taking over after Lane Kiffin left for LSU.

Who the new coach is

• Ole Miss promoted Pete Golding from defensive coordinator to head coach, making him the 40th head football coach in program history.

• He stepped into the role immediately following Lane Kiffin’s departure to become the head coach at LSU.

When and how it happened

• The change was announced in late November 2025, as Ole Miss finalized plans for its College Football Playoff run.

• Players were informed in a team meeting that Golding would be “the guy,” and athletics director Keith Carter later publicly confirmed his promotion.

Golding’s background

• Golding had been Ole Miss’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach since 2023, after previously serving in the same roles under Nick Saban at Alabama from 2018–2022.

• Ole Miss leadership has emphasized his reputation as an elite defensive mind and strong recruiter, calling Oxford his home and framing his hire as a long-term move, not just a playoff stopgap.

TL;DR: Pete Golding, formerly Ole Miss’ defensive coordinator, is now the new Ole Miss head coach after Lane Kiffin left for LSU.