Pete Golding was one of the biggest moves of the offseason, especially in the SEC, when the defensive coordinator left Alabama for Ole Miss.

Golding told reporters on Friday that he wanted to be a better husband and father, and discussed the family ties he has to Mississippi. As a former Division II player and coach, Golding said his goal was always to coach in the SEC.

“You get so locked in sometimes to a career, then you’re focused on the next step, … and when you’re married and you’ve got 3 kids, sometimes you lose the value of what you’re really about,” Golding said. “I enjoyed where I was at, this is strictly based on trying to be a better husband and father.”

Golding said his wife was born and raised and Mississippi and went to Ole Miss, and his mother was born and raised in Mississippi, and this is his 3rd stint in Mississippi.

Golding said Ole Miss is close to being elite, and if he can have an impact to help that progress, especially on defense, while still being where his wife wants to be, and still do what he loves: “I think that’s special, I don’t think it happens a lot. I enjoyed where I was at, I learned a ton, it had nothing to do with Alabama, this was strictly based on trying to be a better husband and father.”

Golding, who was often criticized by Alabama fans, coached with Nick Saban at Alabama since 2018, and for the last 4 seasons as DC. Golding’s been in coaching since 2006, when he got his start as a graduate assistant at Delta State, his alma mater. He joined the Alabama staff in 2018 as defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach.

Before the Alabama bowl game last season, Golding shared how he could improve as a coach and that he got into coaching to affect young men. He’s also in no rush to be a head coach.

Alabama ranked in the top 20 nationally in scoring defense in each of Golding’s 5 seasons with the program and in the top 10 4 times. The Tide ranked 9th in scoring defense and 13th in total defense last season.

H/T Jon Sokoloff.