It has been a wild few weeks in Oxford. Honestly, if you’d told a Rebels fan back in October that Lane Kiffin would be wearing LSU purple while Ole Miss was deep in a College Football Playoff run, they would’ve called you crazy. But here we are. The Ole Miss football coaching staff has undergone a total metamorphosis in the first few weeks of 2026, and it’s honestly been one of the messiest, most fascinating transitions in the history of the SEC.
You’ve got a defensive coordinator suddenly thrust into the big chair, a former NFL head coach handling quarterbacks, and a "homecoming" at offensive coordinator that has the fan base genuinely excited. It's a lot to keep track of.
Pete Golding: From DC to the Big Chair
Basically, the era of "Portal Pete" has officially begun—but with a title change. When Kiffin bolted for Baton Rouge on November 30, 2025, the administration didn't even blink. They promoted Pete Golding to head coach immediately. It was a 100% permanent move, no "interim" tags allowed.
Golding didn't just take the job; he steered the ship through the storm. While Kiffin was in Louisiana trying to recruit players away from Oxford, Golding was coaching the Rebels to playoff wins over Tulane and Georgia. It's kinda unprecedented. Usually, when a coach leaves, the staff falls apart. Instead, Golding kept the defense together and somehow convinced a good chunk of the roster that the grass isn't actually greener in Baton Rouge.
He’s still going to call the defensive plays, too. Why mess with what works? The Rebels' defense was the backbone of that 11-1 regular season, and Golding clearly doesn't want to hand over those keys just yet.
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The New Look Offense: A Familiar Face Returns
With Charlie Weis Jr. packing his bags for LSU, there was a massive hole at offensive coordinator. Golding didn't look far. He brought back John David Baker from East Carolina.
If you remember, Baker was in Oxford from 2021 to 2023. He knows the building, he knows the "Pro-Mindset" culture, and he basically speaks the same offensive language the players are already used to. At ECU, Baker turned their offense into a juggernaut, averaging over 33 points a game this past season.
Key Names on the 2026 Offensive Staff:
- John David Baker (OC): The architect. He’s expected to maintain that high-tempo, explosive style that fans love.
- Joe Judge (Quarterbacks): Yeah, that Joe Judge. The former Giants head coach is now in Oxford. It’s a massive hire for development, especially with the high-caliber talent in the QB room.
- Frank Wilson (Running Backs): This was a huge steal. Wilson is a legendary recruiter and was recently at LSU. Bringing him to Oxford is a direct jab at Kiffin’s new program.
- L’Damian Washington (Wide Receivers): A rising star in the coaching world who previously spent time at Western Kentucky and USF.
- John Garrison (Offensive Line): One of the few holdovers from the Kiffin era. Keeping Garrison was vital for recruiting and stability up front.
Rebuilding the Defense and Support Staff
While Golding is the defensive mastermind, he brought in Patrick Toney as the official defensive coordinator. Toney comes straight from the Arizona Cardinals (NFL) and has a long history with Golding from their days at UTSA and Southeastern Louisiana.
It’s a smart move. Toney handles the day-to-day administrative side of the defense and the secondary, allowing Golding to focus on being the CEO of the whole program while still calling the shots on Saturdays.
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Then there's the "support" staff, which is where the real wars are won. Austin Thomas is back as General Manager. The guy is a legend in personnel circles—he’s bounced between LSU and Ole Miss so many times it'll make your head spin, but he’s currently in Oxford, and that’s a win for the Rebels' 2026 portal class.
Current 2026 Defensive Alignment:
- Patrick Toney: Defensive Coordinator (Secondary focus).
- Bryan Brown: Co-Defensive Coordinator (Secondary). He’s been a vocal supporter of Golding and a huge reason why the secondary stayed intact.
- Randall Joyner: Defensive Line. He signed a new deal to stay in Oxford, which is massive because he’s arguably one of the best D-line coaches in the country.
- Wes Neighbors III: Safeties.
Why the "Chaos" Actually Helped
There’s this narrative that Lane Kiffin is trying to "destroy the locker room" from the outside. Maybe he is. But honestly? It seems to have backfired.
The Ole Miss football coaching staff has used the "us against the world" mentality to secure the No. 2 transfer portal class in the nation for 2026. Players like Jordan Renaud from Alabama and Blake Purchase from Oregon didn't come to Oxford for Lane; they came for the staff that stayed.
Golding has been incredibly transparent about the "double-duty" coaches. During the playoff run, guys like Charlie Weis Jr. and Kevin Smith were literally working two jobs—recruiting for LSU while game-planning for Ole Miss. Golding didn't cry about it. He just said, "We’re going to go out there and spot the ball." That kind of "no-excuses" leadership is why 19 key players have already announced they’re returning for 2026.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Transition
Everyone thinks the offense will take a step back without Kiffin's play-calling. That's a mistake. John David Baker was a massive part of the 2022 rushing attack that broke school records. He isn't some outsider trying to learn a new system; he helped build the old one.
Also, don't overlook Michael Spurlock. The former Rebel legend is back as an offensive assistant. Having a guy who actually played in the Vaught and understands the "Hotty Toddy" culture is worth its weight in gold when you're trying to keep a locker room together during a coaching change.
Actionable Insights for Rebels Fans
If you're following the team into the 2026 season, keep an eye on these three specific areas where the new staff will be tested:
- The Joe Judge Factor: Watch how the quarterbacks progress in their footwork and situational awareness. Judge is a stickler for the "little things" that often get overlooked in high-tempo offenses.
- Patrick Toney’s Secondary: With Toney's NFL background, expect to see more complex "disguise" coverages. The Rebels were good defensively in '25, but they could be more sophisticated in '26.
- Recruiting Retention: The 15-day portal window in January is the real battlefield. Keep an eye on Austin Thomas and Kelvin Bolden. If they can keep the current commits signed, Ole Miss is a preseason Top 10 team.
The 2026 Ole Miss football coaching staff isn't just a "replacement" crew. It’s a group specifically built to be more stable, more defensive-minded, and arguably more connected to the Oxford community than the previous regime. The Lane Kiffin era was fun, but the Pete Golding era looks a lot more sustainable.