Football
- Title:
- Co-Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers
- Phone:
- 205-348-3600
Pete Golding joined head coach Nick Saban's staff in December of 2017 and begins his first season in 2018 as the Crimson Tide's co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach.
Golding came to Tuscaloosa after coaching defensive backs and handling the defensive coordinator duties at the University of Texas-San Antonio the past two seasons.
He inherits a talented group of linebackers in 2018 led by junior Mack Wilson and sophomore Dylan Moses. Wilson started two games and finished with 40 tackles and a team-high four interceptions. Moses also made two starts and finished with 30 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and added 1.5 sacks. Keith Holcombe and Josh McMillon provide quality veteran depth while underclassmen Markail Benton and VanDarius Cowan will push for playing time.
Golding's 2017 defense ranked seventh in the Football Bowl Subdivision, allowing just 287.8 yards per game. The Roadrunners finished eighth in scoring defense (17.0 ppg), second in first downs defense (166) and 19th in pass efficiency defense (112.19). UTSA's improvement during Golding's tenure was evident, as the defense allowed 156 less yards per game and 16.8 less point per game in 2017 compared to 2015.
In his first season with the Roadrunners in 2016, he helped lead the program to six wins and its first bowl game – the 2016 Gildan New Mexico Bowl. His defense set several school records, including single-season standards for tackles (934), tackles for loss (77), sacks (27) and quarterback hurries (38). Individually, linebacker Josiah Tauaefa broke UTSA's season record for tackles with 115 on his way to becoming the program's first Freshman All-American (Football Writers Association of America) and collecting Conference USA Freshman of the Year and first-team all-conference honors. Defensive end Marcus Davenport and safety Michael Egwuagu were named second-team all-conference and safety Jordan Moore was honorable mention.
Golding joined the UTSA staff after spending two years as an assistant coach at Southern Miss where he coached the safeties. The Golden Eagles posted a six-win improvement in his second season, finishing 9-5 overall with a trip to the Heart of Dallas Bowl while winning the Western Division of Conference USA.
Prior to his time in Hattiesburg, Golding was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Southeastern Louisiana for two seasons (2012-13). He helped guide the Lions program to a school-record 11 wins and its first conference title (Southern) since 1961 with a 7-0 league record. Southeastern Louisiana advanced to the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in its first appearance and Golding's defense led the Southland in both total and scoring defense.
Before heading to Hammond, he was the defensive coordinator at his alma mater Delta State from 2010-11, leading the Statesman to the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship Game and the Gulf South Conference title.
He also spent three years on staff at Tusculum coaching the defensive backs while coordinating the defense the final two years as the Pioneers developed into a record-setting defensive unit under his direction. In 2007, Tusculum intercepted a program-record 14 passes and produced conference-leading marks in sacks and forced turnovers on their way to an appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Golding has tutored six All-Americans during his 10-year coaching career, including 2012 FCS Defensive Player of the Year and 2013 second round National Football League draft pick Robert Alford, who was a cornerback under Golding during his senior season. He coached 18 Delta State players to All-Gulf South Conference and All-South Region teams during his tenure, while six Tusculum defenders received All-South Atlantic Conference accolades.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Delta State in 2006 after starting four seasons at safety for the Statesmen (2002-05).
A native of Hammond, La., Golding and his wife Carolyn have two children, Braxton and Bentley. Golding graduated from Delta State in 2005 with a degree in business.
