University of Texas at San Antonio defensive coordinator Pete Golding has emerged as the leading candidate to join Alabama’s defensive staff for next season, The Tuscaloosa News has learned.
Alabama’s current defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt accepted the Tennessee coaching job last week, opening a position on the Crimson Tide’s defensive staff for 2018. The NCAA also previously approved a 10th on-the-field assistant coach for 2018, meaning UA currently has two assistant coach positions to fill for next season.
Golding, who also coaches cornerbacks at UTSA, was a four-year starter at safety at Delta State from 2002-05. He began his coaching career immediately following his playing career, becoming a graduate assistant at Delta State in 2006.
From there he served one season as defensive backs coach at Tusculum before being named the defensive coordinator there for two seasons. He went back to Delta State from 2010-11 as the defensive coordinator and took the same job a Southeastern Louisiana from 2012-13. He served two seasons at Southern Miss as the safeties coach before accepting the defensive coordinator at UTSA in 2016.
The Hammond, La., native is well thought of in coaching circles.
Golding coached six All-Americans in his 10-year coaching career, according to his UTSA biography. That includes 2012 FCS Defensive Player of the Year and 2013 second-round NFL draft pick Robert Alford.
FootballScoop.com reported that Golding was also a candidate for the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State.
Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229.
