Pete Golding is in his first season as UTSA's defensive coordinator.
Golding comes to the Alamo City following a two-year stint as an assistant coach at Southern Miss, where he coached the safeties. The Golden Eagles posted a six-win improvement in his second season. Southern Miss finished 9-5 overall, won the West Division of Conference USA with a 7-1 mark and made an appearance in the Heart of Dallas Bowl in 2015.
“Several respected coaches highly recommended Pete Golding and we put Pete through an extensive NFL-like interview," head coach Frank Wilson said. "Pete has six years of experience as a highly-successful defensive coordinator and he spent the last couple of seasons in Conference USA at Southern Miss. He knows our conference and it was evident during the interview process that he has a complete understanding of the front end, as well as secondary play. Pete is relentless in his pursuit of perfection and he is widely respected as a recruiter. Our players and coaches are going to appreciate his passion and energy. I think our players will also like our defensive scheme, which includes innovative ways to pressure the quarterback.”
“The feeling I got during my interview with Coach Wilson is like something I have never felt before," Golding said. "Coach Wilson is special. To hear him speak about the opportunity we have at UTSA gave me goose bumps. His passion for molding young men, developing them while having a great time in the process resonated with me. To be able to move my wife, Carolyn and my two boys, Braxton and Bentley, to a city that has as much to offer as San Antonio was an opportunity of a lifetime. I'm ready to get to work and help our young men become champions.”
Prior to his tenure at Southern Miss, the Hammond, La., native spent two seasons as Southeastern Louisiana's defensive coordinator. In his final year in 2013, the Lions won a program-record 11 contests, including a perfect 7-0 mark in Southland Conference play en route to their first league title since 1961. Southeastern Louisiana advanced to the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in its first-ever appearance and his defense led the Southland in both total and scoring defense.
Golding served as defensive coordinator from 2010-11 at his alma mater, Delta State. A former All-Gulf South Conference defensive back, he also coached the team's secondary.
The Statesmen advanced to the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship Game after winning their third Gulf South Conference title in four years with an 11-4 overall record.
That came on the heels of a two-year stint as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Tusculum.
The Pioneers became an explosive and record-setting defensive unit under his direction. In 2007, Tusculum intercepted a program-record 14 passes and it produced conference-leading marks in sacks and forced turnovers en route to an appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Golding has tutored six All-Americans during his 10-year coaching career, including 2012 FCS Defensive Player of the Year and 2013 second-round National Football League draft pick Robert Alford, who was a cornerback under Golding during his senior season. Meanwhile, 18 players at Delta State were named to the All-Gulf South Conference and All-South Region teams during his tenure, while six Tusculum defenders received All-South Atlantic Conference accolades.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Delta State in 2006 after being a four-year starter at safety for the Statesmen from 2002-05.
Golding graduated in 2005 from Delta State with a degree in business. He and his wife, Carolyn, are the parents of two sons, Braxton and Bentley.