Bold statement: Ole Miss is betting on a rising mastermind, and the strategy behind that gamble is as intriguing as the upcoming playoff clash. When Bryan Brown returned to Ole Miss in January 2024, his eyes were set on the horizon. A former Ole Miss defensive back who had built defensive credibility at Louisville and Cincinnati, Brown chose a co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach role because he saw a clear, long-term plan. He believed Lane Kiffin might depart Ole Miss for another opportunity, and if that happened, Pete Golding would be promoted to head coach. Brown proved prescient: less than two years later, Golding is preparing for his first game as Ole Miss head coach in a College Football Playoff showdown against Tulane (Saturday, 2:30 p.m., TNT/HBO Max/truTV). Brown’s responsibilities have grown, too, as he handles meetings and tasks to free Golding to assume more head coaching duties.
“It’s a dream come true,” Brown said, praising Golding as “the smartest football coach I’ve ever worked with.” He added that Golding’s players respond to his approach and that the coach “is doing it his way” by staying true to himself. Brown noted that Golding excels at thinking outside the box and anticipating what might not be visible on film, a key trait for a defensive coordinator who wants to stay a step ahead. Another Rebels assistant, Joe Judge, agrees: Golding “always has answers for answers.”
Judge, a former New York Giants head coach who spent 2023 as assistant head coach for the New England Patriots, made a late-season return to college football and found a home in Oxford. He recalls a rapid decision to stay after a brief tour, calling last year “a blast” and confirming a strong desire to coach in college football again. Judge’s head-coaching experience, plus stints under Nick Saban at Alabama and Bill Belichick in New England, has proven a valuable resource for Golding as he prepares for Tulane.
“It’s about big-picture preparation—putting everyone in the right position, managing people and time,” Judge explained. “If you have something else you can contribute, like Pete’s defense calling, that’s a huge advantage. He thinks outside the box, he anticipates, and he’s one of the smartest coaches I’ve seen. He sees the big picture and finds pathways that others might miss.” Judge emphasized Golding’s forward-thinking approach, noting his knack for predicting issues and preemptively offering solutions.
Kiffin’s departure to LSU after Ole Miss’s regular-season finale on Nov. 28 set the stage for Golding’s promotion on Nov. 29, and Judge quickly became a stabilizing force. Judge, reflecting on NFL experiences with players nearing head-coaching or coordinator roles, underscored the necessity of keeping the current players focused on the task at hand: Tulane this week, not lengthy off-season negotiations. “Whatever Golding needs, I’m here to help,” Judge affirmed.
This commitment isn’t just for the playoff run. Judge’s contract as Ole Miss’ quarterback coach was recently extended, securing his presence in Oxford through at least the 2026 season. “I love it here. I love Mississippi, Oxford, the players, and this university,” Judge said. “Why would I want to leave? We’re in playoff football right now, preparing to face Tulane—where else would you rather be?”
