Southeastern Conference football program at the University of Mississippi secures position for one of its coaches as the highest-paid assistant in the league, according to district-wide salary records.
In the world of college football, Ole Miss is making waves with its defensive prowess and high-profile coaching staff. At the helm of the Rebels' defense is Pete Golding, who has been named the highest-paid assistant coach in the Southeastern Conference for the 2025 season. Golding's salary of $2.55 million puts him in second place nationally among all assistant coaches, just behind Jim Knowles at Penn State[1][2].
Golding's contract extension, signed in February 2025, averages $2.61 million annually over three years. The deal includes incentives such as $50,000 for winning the SEC Championship and $150,000 for a College Football Playoff National Championship[1][2]. Golding's defense ranked second nationally in scoring defense in 2024 and led the country in sacks, contributing to his high valuation.
Ole Miss' defense ceded the third-fewest total yards per game in the conference during the 2024 season. The Rebels allowed the fewest rushing yards in the SEC (80.5 yards per game) and the fewest points per game (14.4). These impressive statistics have set the bar high for the 2025 season.
Lane Kiffin, the head coach at Ole Miss, is also a notable figure in the coaching staff. With a salary of $7.5 million, Kiffin is the 11th-highest-paid head coach in college football[1]. Kiffin and Golding have coaching roots in Nick Saban's coaching tree, having worked with the Alabama football team. Kiffin served as Saban's offensive coordinator from 2014 to 2016, while Golding was Alabama's defensive coordinator from 2018 to 2022.
Under Kiffin's leadership, the Ole Miss football team has enjoyed consecutive 10-win seasons. The team has been ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press' preseason poll for the 2025 season. However, the team is returning only five starters for the upcoming season, which could pose a challenge.
Eight players from the Ole Miss football team were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, further highlighting the team's talent and potential. The team is expecting a lot from its coaching staff in 2025, and with Golding's proven track record and Kiffin's offensive acumen, fans are optimistic about the season ahead.
Sources: [1] 247Sports. (2025, March 1). Lane Kiffin, Pete Golding Salaries. [online] Available at: https://247sports.com/college/ole-miss/Article/Lane-Kiffin-Pete-Golding-salaries-175238199/
[2] ESPN. (2025, February 23). Top-paid college football assistant coaches for 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/36174552/top-paid-college-football-assistant-coaches-2025-salaries-rankings-nfl-draft-prospects-college-football-playoff-national-championship
Read also:
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
- Massive 8.8 earthquake hits off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting Japan to issue a tsunami alert.
