Alabama will have a different defensive coordinator in 2023.
According to multiple reports, defensive coordinator Pete Golding is set to become the new defensive coordinator at Ole Miss. Golding has held the position at Alabama for the past four seasons after serving as co-defensive coordinator in 2018.
Alabama gave up just over 18 points per game in 2022 and was a top 10 in goal defense. Opposing offenses averaged 4.6 yards per game and quarterbacks completed less than 55% of their passes against the Crimson Tide.
But Alabama gave up 84 points across its two losses combined. Tennessee broke 50 in a 52-49 win over the Tide and LSU scored 32 in a one-point overtime win that knocked Alabama out of contention for the SEC West.
The Tide conceded five times less than 10 points in 2022, but also gave up 20 or more points seven times. It was a similar rate to 2021, when opponents from Alabama broke 20 points in eight games. Alabama gave up 33 in its national title game against Georgia and also conceded 41 in a surprise loss to Texas A&M.
While it’s undoubtedly true that college football has changed significantly over the past five seasons, it’s at least worth noting that Alabama has conceded at least 18 points per game over the past five seasons after dropping 12 points per game in 2017.
It can’t be ruled out that Golding won’t be the only Nick Saban significant assistant to switch jobs. The New England Patriots are now officially looking for an offensive coordinator, and current Alabama offensive coordinator and former Patriots assistant Bill O’Brien has been mentioned as a candidate.
Golding will replace Chris Partridge as Ole Miss’ defense coordinator under Lane Kiffin. Golding and Kiffin did not overlap in Alabama; Kiffin’s only season as the Tide’s offensive coordinator was in 2016, and Golding came two years later.
Ole Miss allowed over 25 points per game in 2022 and opponents averaged 5.3 yards per game. The opposing quarterbacks completed almost two-thirds of their passes against the Rebels as Ole Miss finished the season 8-5 after starting the season 7-0.
Pete Golding has been in charge of defense for Alabama for the past four seasons. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)