Promoted from defensive coordinator when Lane Kiffin left for LSU on Nov. 30, 2025, mid-CFP run. Golding coached Ole Miss to CFP wins over Tulane and Georgia before falling to Miami in the semifinal. Previously Alabama's DC from 2018-22 under Nick Saban.
Record & context
Lifetime record2–1 as interim/permanent HC (2025 CFP run)
Current program1st full season at Ole Miss
Years in system—
ATS contextNo standalone HC ATS record yet (first full season) Inherits a program off its first-ever 13-win season (11-1 regular season, CFP semifinal berth) — Ole Miss returns 49 letterwinners and is a preseason top- 3 SEC pick, with real national-title-level expectations for year one under Golding.
Previous season11-1 regular season — CFP semifinalist
Compensation
Salary$6.8M
SourceCoach salary per Yahoo Sports/Daily Journal term sheet (5-yr, $35M deal, $100K annual raises to $7.2M by 2030) obtained after Golding's Nov. 30, 2025 promotion. Ole Miss has not di
Designationreported
Confidence—
Figures are labeled by designation. Estimated values are not official contract terms.