So, you’re looking for who is the football coach for Ole Miss? If you haven't checked the news since the 2025 Egg Bowl, the answer is going to catch you off guard. It isn't Lane Kiffin anymore. Honestly, the coaching carousel in Oxford just pulled one of the wildest turns in recent SEC history.
As of right now, Pete Golding is the head football coach for the Ole Miss Rebels.
Yeah, the defensive guru. The guy who spent the last couple of seasons fixing a Rebel defense that used to be a sieve. He officially took the reins in late 2025 after Lane Kiffin decided to pack his bags and head to Baton Rouge to lead the LSU Tigers. It was a move that basically set the internet on fire. People were shocked, then they were mad, and then they were just curious about what comes next.
Pete Golding: The man behind the headset
When you ask who is the football coach for Ole Miss, you’re no longer talking about the "Portal King" with the flashy Twitter (X) account. You’re talking about a guy who built his reputation on the defensive side of the ball under Nick Saban at Alabama before coming to Oxford in 2023.
Golding didn't just inherit the job because he was standing there. He earned it by turning the 2024 Rebels into a defensive powerhouse. That year, Ole Miss actually led the nation in sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120). It was weird seeing an Ole Miss team win games because they stifled people rather than just out-finessing them.
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Why the change happened
Lane Kiffin’s departure on November 30, 2025, was the catalyst. He left after a massive 11-1 regular season, which was the first time Ole Miss had ever hit 11 wins before the bowl game. LSU came calling with a reported $13 million-a-year contract, and Kiffin took it.
The Ole Miss administration, led by AD Keith Carter, didn't want to mess around with a long, drawn-out search. They saw Golding as the guy who could keep the roster together. They named him the head coach immediately, skipping the "interim" tag entirely to show the players they were serious about stability.
The new look of the Rebel staff
Golding has been busy. Being a first-year head coach in the SEC is basically like trying to fix a plane while it’s flying 500 miles per hour. He had to replace a bunch of guys who followed Kiffin to LSU.
Here is how the main staff looks right now:
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- John David Baker is back as Offensive Coordinator. He was at East Carolina last year, but Rebs fans remember him from the 2021-23 seasons.
- Joe Judge is coaching the quarterbacks. Yes, that Joe Judge from the Giants and the Patriots.
- Michael Spurlock, a total fan favorite and former Rebel QB/WR, is back as an offensive assistant.
- Patrick Toney was brought in from the Arizona Cardinals to handle the Defensive Coordinator role.
It’s a mix of "returning home" and high-level NFL experience. Golding’s biggest goal for the 2026 season is keeping the momentum Kiffin built without the "Lane Train" distractions.
What to expect from the Golding era
If you're wondering how the team will play, it’s going to be a bit different. Under Kiffin, it was all about tempo and explosive passing. Golding is obviously a defensive mind, but hiring John David Baker suggests they aren't going to just start running the ball every play and huddling up.
Baker’s offenses at East Carolina were aggressive. However, you can bet your house that the defense will be the calling card. Golding still calls the plays on that side of the ball. He’s obsessed with "simulated pressures"—basically making the quarterback think five guys are coming when only four are. It's high-level chess.
Honestly, the "vibe" in Oxford has shifted. Kiffin was a celebrity. Golding is more of a "football junkie." He’s the guy who stayed in the building until 2:00 AM during the playoffs to make sure the offensive staff didn't bail before the final game.
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The legacy Golding is chasing
To understand the pressure on whoever is the football coach for Ole Miss, you have to look at the numbers Kiffin left behind.
- 55 wins in six seasons.
- Four 10-win seasons.
- A 21-1 record at home since 2023.
Those are massive shoes to fill. John Vaught is the only other coach in school history who really breathes that kind of air. Golding is currently sitting at a 2-1 record as the lead man (including the 2025 postseason transition), and the 2026 schedule isn't going to be kind. The SEC is a meat grinder.
Actionable insights for fans
If you’re following the Rebels this year, here’s what you need to keep an eye on to see if Golding is the real deal:
- Roster Retention: Watch the spring transfer portal window. Golding’s first big test was keeping the guys Kiffin recruited from leaving for LSU or elsewhere. So far, the "familiar faces" hires like Spurlock and Baker have helped keep the locker room steady.
- The Defensive Identity: Does the pass rush stay elite without some of the 2024 stars? Golding’s system relies on having "dudes" up front.
- Recruiting: Kiffin was the "King of the Portal," but high school recruiting was sometimes a secondary thought. Golding has brought in guys like Austin Thomas (General Manager) and Kelvin Bolden to beef up the recruiting department. Check the 2027 class rankings this summer; that will tell you if the foundation is solid.
The question of who is the football coach for Ole Miss has a clear answer now, but the question of whether he can keep the Rebels in the national conversation is the one everyone is waiting to see play out on the field. Keep an eye on the spring game in April. That will be the first real look at the "Golding Standard" in action without the shadow of the previous regime.