Lane Kiffin Thrilled on Pete Golding Hire, Future of Ole Miss Defense

The Rebels head coach says he got a "five-star" grab in his hiring of Pete Golding.

OXFORD, Miss. -- Typically, signing day press conferences are reserved to discuss player signees, but Ole Miss Rebels coach Lane Kiffin bragged on one of his coaching hires during his recent media availability.

After discussing potentially-impactful names on his roster like transfer quarterback Spencer Sanders, Kiffin was asked about his new defensive coordinator hire, former Alabama Crimson Tide assistant Pete Golding.

“That was really awesome,” Kiffin said. “We’re talking about signing day, and we’re talking about stars. That signing is as five-star as you can get. This is a great coach that everyone that’s worked with him has always said from the beginning. 

"Even when he was at smaller places before that, he was brilliant, upcoming. Coach [Nick] Saban even talked about it. So just an unusual situation that someone, at the top of their game, you get to come here."

Something that could have helped land Golding at Ole Miss was family ties to the Oxford area.

“His wife’s family is from here," Kiffin said. "So, that was great. Kind of like in recruiting, there are advantages. We’re really excited for them to come, he and his family to be here and to help us, not just on defense. He’s been a phenomenal recruiter, too, one that we’ve had to go against.”

Kiffin and the Rebels finished their season at 8-5 after starting the year with a record of 7-0. Despite the late collapse, Kiffin is once again living up to his nickname of "Portal King," bringing in a load of transfer players who will likely be expected to make an impact from the first snap in the upcoming fall.

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You can follow John Macon on Twitter at @JMakeGillespie.

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