Ole Miss Coach Pete Golding Addresses Uncertainty of LSU-Bound Assistants

Oxford — Ole Miss football coach Pete Golding has expressed uncertainty about whether key assistants, including offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., will remain with the team for the College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal game against Miami. Golding emphasized that the decision rests with the coaches themselves, as they are not under his direct employment.

“We have every opportunity, like we have up to this point, to be able to make that decision,” Golding said during a press conference on January 3 at the Fiesta Bowl. “Week in and week out, I don’t dictate whether they do that or not. They are not employed by me. Up to this point that’s how it’s been, and that’s my expectation.”

Ole Miss, ranked No. 6 with a record of 13-1, is set to face No. 10 Miami in the Fiesta Bowl on January 8 at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN in Glendale, Arizona. The winner of this game will advance to the national championship on January 19 in Miami, where they will face the victor of the Peach Bowl between Indiana and Oregon.

Coaches’ Unique Situation with LSU

Charlie Weis Jr. is the highest-ranking Ole Miss coach set to follow former head coach Lane Kiffin to LSU. Alongside Weis, running backs coach Kevin Smith, wide receivers coach George McDonald, and tight ends coach Joe Cox have been associated with both Ole Miss and LSU simultaneously. This unusual arrangement has proven successful, as Ole Miss secured victories over Tulane and Georgia in the CFP to reach the Fiesta Bowl.

Golding noted that communication with Kiffin has been strong, and the goal is to retain these coaches for the Fiesta Bowl and any potential national championship game.

“The idea is the same guys that have coached the same positions all year will do that in this game like they have up to this point,” Golding explained.

However, since these coaches are now employed by LSU, their participation with Ole Miss is based on a gentlemen’s agreement. Golding acknowledged that he cannot guarantee their presence.

“I don’t know,” Golding said. “Do you know if you are going to show up to work tomorrow? It’s grown people making decisions. I have no idea. We’re going to go out there and spot the ball. We’ve got plenty of people in this building who showed up this morning. We’ll be just fine.”

Conflicting Reports on Coaching Changes

There have been conflicting reports regarding the future of some of Ole Miss’ assistant coaches. According to 247Sports, Kevin Smith is expected to leave Ole Miss to become LSU’s full-time running backs coach. However, On3 later reported that Smith had plans to finish the season with Ole Miss. On3 also noted that Weis was the only one of the four coaches leaving for LSU who was present at Ole Miss on January 3.

Ole Miss has already taken steps to secure an offensive coordinator for the 2026 season. John David Baker was hired on December 9. He previously coached at East Carolina University (ECU) in 2024 and 2025 and was a 2024 Broyles Award nominee after leading ECU to an 8-5 record.

Golding assured that there are enough qualified coaches available in case a backup plan is needed. He stressed that the outcome of the game will ultimately depend on the players, not the play callers. He is not concerned about the uncertainty affecting the game plan.

“It’s going to have no impact on the game, but y’all can keep blowing it up and make it a big deal,” Golding said.