Football
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers
- Phone:
- 205-348-3600
Pete Golding is in his fourth year on head coach Nick Saban's staff coaching the inside linebackers and his third as the Crimson Tide's defensive coordinator after serving as the co-defensive coordinator in 2018.
His 2020 defense led the SEC in scoring (19.0 ppg) and got better as the season progressed, allowing just 15 points per game over the final nine contests. The Tide ranked third in the league in total defense and rushing defense while the pass efficiency defense also led the league and ranked 18th nationally. Middle linebackers Dylan Moses and Christian Harris paced the Crimson Tide with 80 and 79 tackles, respectively, while combining for 13.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. Moses garnered first team All-America honors from the AFCA while Harris was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award.
Golding's unit was devastated by injuries in 2019 and forced the first-year coordinator into starting two true freshmen at the mike and will positions in the Tide's base 3-4 scheme. Expected starters at middle linebacker, Joshua McMillon and Moses, both suffered torn ACLs in fall camp. Those setbacks forced two true freshmen into the lineup in a trial by fire scenario that saw Shane Lee finish second on the team in tackles with 86, including 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, and Harris ranked fourth in tackles with 63 and 7.5 tackles for loss.
The inside linebackers at Alabama in 2018 were led by a pair of second team All-Americans in junior Mack Wilson and Moses. Both players started all 15 games at the mike and will spots, combining for 157 tackles. Moses was a finalist for the Dick Butkus Award in 2018 and led all tacklers with 86 stops that year. He added 10 tackles for loss (-41 yards), 3.5 sacks, a pass breakup and a forced fumble. Wilson, who was a semifinalist for the Butkus, registered 71 tackles, two interceptions, five pass breakups and six quarterback hurries.
Alabama's defense finished the 2018 season ranked third nationally in scoring (18.1 ppg) and 16th in total defense (319.5 ypg). The rushing defense was 19th nationally (121.3 ypg) while the pass efficiency defense ranked 23rd. Alabama also ranked 10th nationally in sacks per game at 3.0.
He came to Tuscaloosa after coaching defensive backs and handling the defensive coordinator duties at the University of Texas-San Antonio in 2016 and 2017. Golding's 2017 defense at Texas-San Antonio 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 were evident as the defense allowed 156 less yards per game and 16.8 less point per game in 2017 compared to the year prior to his arrival in 2015.
In his first season with the Roadrunners in 2016, Golding 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.
Golding joined the UTSA staff after spending two years as an assistant 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 tutored six All-Americans during his 10-year coaching career before his time in Tuscaloosa, 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 three children, Braxton, Bentley and Bailey. Golding graduated from Delta State in 2005 with a degree in business.
