OXFORD – Pete Golding isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel at Ole Miss. He’s well aware of what has elevated the Rebels’ program over the last few years.

Golding was elevated from defensive coordinator to head coach on Nov. 30 following Lane Kiffin’s departure to LSU. Golding has been Ole Miss’ defensive coordinator the last three seasons – a stretch where the Rebels have won 32 games and secured three straight double-digit win seasons for the first time in program history. Ole Miss has had top-35 scoring defenses in each of Golding’s three years, including the No. 2 unit last season and a group tied for 24th this year despite 10 new starters.

Golding’s first game as Ole Miss’ head coach will come in arguably its biggest game ever – a College Football Playoff tilt with Tulane on Dec. 20 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Golding met in-person with media Thursday for the first time since being named head coach just weeks earlier. Continuity was a steady theme.

In his remarks, Golding said he would still be calling defensive plays in the playoff and beyond, though he said co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Bryan Brown would have a bigger role in preparation as Golding assumes more duties as head coach.

“(I) talked to a lot of guys in this profession. I love calling defense, feel like I do a decent job at it, that’s not going to change,” Golding said. “ … As far as actually calling the defense, the system, the terminology, we’ve recruited that system for three years, and I’ve looked every kid in the face and every parent in the eye and said, ‘I can assure you that system won’t change.’ And it’s not going to.”

Golding was also asked about the recent hire of offensive coordinator John David Baker, who will take over the reins in 2026. Baker, who was previously an assistant at Ole Miss and co-offensive coordinator with Charlie Weis Jr., spent the last two seasons as East Carolina’s offensive play caller. The Pirates are 14th nationally in total offense per game (464.7) this year. Weis is headed to LSU with Kiffin but will coach the Rebels’ offense through their playoff run.

“I like guys that are in a system, and then they leave, and now they kind of create their own to where they streamline it,” Golding said. “ … The big interview process for him was like, all right, I know the system here and you know the system here. When you left, what did you change and why? I like guys that can change things and make it easier and simplify it for the players.”

Keeping a similar offense in place for the future was a key for Golding. As was the case with him remaining the defensive play caller, keeping things in place that have worked before makes the most sense. Tempo and pace have worked well for Ole Miss, who has ranked in the top 15 in total offense each of the last six seasons. The Rebels average 74.8 plays per game this year; the Pirates average 78.3 under Baker’s direction.

Why fix something that isn’t broken?

“I think stability and systems are very important on all three phases. And obviously a lot of guys in this locker room were recruited to play within this system,” Golding said. “ … Retention, obviously, is the biggest component of recruiting right now, and they’ve had a lot of success in this system. It’s done really well here, obviously scored a lot of points and won a bunch of football games. So, having been around it the last three years, I knew from a defensive standpoint the issues that it presents. I love everything about it.”