Joel Klatt explains Pete Golding's move from Nick Saban, Alabama to Ole Miss

Pete Golding left Alabama, Nick Saban and his defensive coordinator spot to take the same position at Ole Miss.

Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt said Golding left for the same spot within the same division with Saban’s blessing. He made the argument a move like that does not happen without Saban having some grand plan.

Klatt explained how Golding left the Crimson Tide for the Rebels, despite coaching under Saban.

“Pete Golding is leaving Alabama, he’s gonna go join the Lane train,” Klatt said on his podcast. “Down to Ole Miss, Pete Golding. Not a ton of thoughts on this other than this: I don’t think anything happens at Alabama or within that program under Nick Saban that Nick Saban doesn’t either bless or desire he wants it to happen. 

“Either way, I know of guys specifically, and I’m not gonna name names specifically, that have coached for Nick Saban that got great opportunities. And he told them, ‘No, you’re not going to do that. You’re gonna stay here and here’s the reason why.’ He desired that they stayed. Those same guys got different opportunities and he said, ‘thumbs up, like, go ahead.’” 

Based on Klatt’s words, the analyst and former quarterback sounded like he suggested Saban wanted Golding out without directly removing him from the staff.

“You cannot tell me that Nick Saban sat in front of Pete Golding, and said, ‘Yeah, Ole Miss defensive coordinator is better than being here,’” Klatt said. “‘Like you need to go do that.’ That’s all I’m gonna say. Like I think Pete has done a nice job in many respects. They’ve lost Charles Kelly as well. He went to Colorado to be the defensive coordinator at Colorado. I would just say this at Alabama. Nothing happens in that program, nothing, nothing happens in that program that Nick Saban doesn’t either bless or desire.”

Before Alabama, Golding was a defensive assistant at a number of stops. He started at Delta State as a graduate assistant before a brief stint as the DC and defensive backs coach at Tusculum College. 

He returned to Delta State as DC and DBs coach. From there, Golding went to Southeast Louisiana, then Southern Miss and finally UTSA before getting hired at Alabama.

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

Under Golding, the Alabama defense was among the top outfits in the nation in terms of total defense. However, in 2022, the Crimson Tide defense had uncharacteristic issues, particularly giving up big plays on the back end of the defense.

Alabama finished 13th nationally in total defense in 2022, giving up fewer than 320 yards per game. The Crimson Tide only gave up more than 20 points five times in 2022; five opponents also were shutout or only scored once.