Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding issues statement following arrest

Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding was arrested by Northport Police early Thursday morning, and after being charged with DUI, Golding was still at the Tuscaloosa County Jail as of late Thursday morning.

Hours after the news of Golding’s arrest became public, the Alabama coach issued a statement on his recent actions.

“I am deeply sorry for the actions that led to my arrest last night,” Golding said. “I sincerely apologize to my family, everyone in our organization, including our players, Coach Saban, the staff, The University of Alabama and our fans. Regardless of the outcome of this pending investigation, I did not uphold the values I have for myself and the values of the Alabama football program. I am committed to learning and growing from this mistake and I will work to earn back the trust of those who I have disappointed.”

According to a report from AL.com, Assistant Chief Keith Carpenter said that police arrested Golding at 1:00 a.m., but he did not release any additional details. The arrest report lists a $500 bond.

Pete Golding has been Alabama’s defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach for four seasons. Prior to his arrival in Tuscaloosa, Golding, a Hammond, Louisiana native, coached at UTSA, Southern Miss, Southeastern Louisiana and more.

Golding played an integral role in helping Alabama land the No. 2 recruiting class in the country, which featured two five-star defensive prospects in edge rushers Jeremiah Alexander and Jihaad Campbell. The two top-ranked defensive prospects are the two highest-ranked recruits in Alabama’s 2022 class, per the On3 Consensus,  a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

“I think Pete has a great personality,” head Nick Saban said of Golding on Wednesday. “I think he spends a lot of time with players. And I think it’s all about relationships. I know that we have a good product here. Pete does a great job of selling that product. But I think in the end, the players know that he cares about them. Players really don’t know what you know until they know that you care.”

The Crimson Tide assistant was a candidate for several open head coaching positions this offseason but he insisted he was happy where he is now in Tuscaloosa.

“I promise you I’m in no rush to be a head coach,” Golding said last month. “I think a lot of that is overrated. Got into this profession to develop players, to be in that room, to have fun with them. And I think sometimes, depending upon where you’re at, you don’t get that anymore.

“Obviously, I took this job to work for the best football coach that has ever coached the game, in my opinion,” Golding told reporters. “So I learned something new every day. I’ve always been one that, regardless of where I was at, to be where my feet are, to do the best job where I’m at, to try to prepare our kids the best way to develop them on and off the field. So I’ve always been one, I think if you do a really good job where you’re at, which, obviously, a lot of people before me have, then opportunities will come.”