After Louisiana State University head coach Brian Kelly was fired midway through the 2025 season, red hot University of Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin emerged as the favorite to fill the vacancy in Baton Rouge. Over a month later, the strung-out decision from Kiffin has finally been announced. Kiffin will jump ship from the ‘Sip and — with a seven year, $84 million contract — look to lead the Tigers to their first National Championship since 2019.
While this is a gut punch for Ole Miss fans who were enjoying the team’s second 11-win season in three years, the decision has paved the way for a former Roadrunner to secure the job of a lifetime in Oxford, Mississippi.
Pete Golding served as UTSA football’s defensive coordinator from 2016-17, and in his first year, he helped the Roadrunners secure their first-ever bowl game appearance. Golding’s defense in 2017 was the seventh-best unit in the nation. The ‘Runners averaged 17 points allowed per game, 287.8 yards per game and finished 19th in the country in defensive pass efficiency. Golding also developed Marcus Davenport, the only Roadrunner to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Though serving just two seasons in the Alamo City, Golding’s impact on the program cannot be overstated. His defense was the lone bright spot in the infamous “Frank Wilson Era” and is a testament to the quality of football that should be played at the Alamodome.
