Ole Miss quickly elevated Pete Golding from defensive coordinator to head coach after Lane Kiffin left for LSU. While Kiffin’s exit was a big blow for the Rebels, Golding is already demonstrating the qualities of a top-tier coach.
Golding is working on both a short-term strategy to guide Ole Miss through the College Football Playoff and a long-term vision for the program’s future.
Ole Miss Looks to Golding’s Leadership in Key Tulane Rematch
Golding and No. 6 Ole Miss will kick off their national championship pursuit on Saturday, hosting No. 11 Tulane in the first round of the College Football Playoff at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. This game marks the 75th meeting between the two programs, with Ole Miss holding a 46-28 advantage in the series.
As Ole Miss prepares for Tulane, Golding continues to shape his coaching staff.
“What we look for in players, we look for in our staff,” Golding said in his Tuesday conference. “Do they love football? Are they good people? Are they good human beings? Do they want to be here? I think obviously some of these guys that have come back have already been here, and I already have a lot of invested into this program and want to give back.
“They know what this place has done for them as young men, and they want to have that same influence on young men right now.”
On Sunday, Ole Miss announced the return of former quarterback Michael Spurlock as an analyst and assistant wide receivers coach. Spurlock played for the Rebels in 2004 and 2005 and spent time in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He previously worked with Golding at UTSA in 2017.
Golding spoke about Spurlock’s hire at Tuesday’s press conference.
“I had the ability to work with Coach Spurlock at another place,” Golding said. “So I saw his energy and his ability to teach and teach the game at a very high level. So that was a no-brainer for me.
“You see his personality and how much he loves football and how intelligent he is and how he affects the people around him. He was a no-brainer. So we’re really excited and moving in that direction for next year, and thank you for bringing a lot to the program.”
Spurlock will work alongside L’Damian Washington, Ole Miss’ new wide receivers coach, who replaced George McDonald after he followed Kiffin to LSU.
Ole Miss is entering the postseason with an 11-1 record and a No. 7 ranking in the PFSN College Football Playoff standings. Sunday’s game serves as a rematch of their Sept. 20 meeting in Oxford, where the Rebels dominated Tulane 45-10.
