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5d ago

Ole Miss DC Pete Golding Inks Three-Year Deal to Become SEC’s Highest-Paid Assistant

Averaging $2.61 million per season with conference and playoff bonuses, the contract cements Golding’s role as Ole Miss aims to sustain its defensive success

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Oct 28, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels defensive coorinator Pete Golding watches from the sidelines during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Overview

  • The extension, signed in February, runs through the 2027–28 season and boosts Golding’s base pay to $2.55 million in 2025, $2.6 million in 2026 and $2.7 million in 2027 with an extra $50,000 for an SEC title and $150,000 for a CFP championship.
  • Golding now leads the SEC in assistant pay and ranks among the top four highest-paid defensive coordinators nationally, trailing only Penn State’s Jim Knowles, Auburn’s DJ Durkin and USC’s Lynn D’Anton.
  • Under Golding’s guidance in 2024, Ole Miss allowed just 14.4 points per game—the fewest in the conference—and finished second nationally in scoring defense.
  • ESPN notes the deal’s $2.61 million average annual value reflects a broader surge in assistant coach compensation as programs compete to retain proven coordinators.
  • The restructuring aims to preserve continuity after nine defensive starters entered the 2025 NFL Draft and to meet elevated expectations for the upcoming season.