Written by Swikriti Dandotia
GLENDALE, Arizona — As Ole Miss prepares for a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance, the program has also locked in a key piece of its future. The Rebels announced Wednesday that Patrick Toney has been hired as defensive coordinator for the 2026 season, filling the role vacated when Pete Golding was promoted to head coach.
Toney arrives from the NFL after completing his third season with the Arizona Cardinals, where he served as defensive backs coach since 2023. His work in Arizona was marked by steady secondary development, including multiple Pro Bowl selections for safety Budda Baker and the emergence of late-round defensive backs such as Dadrion Taylor-Demerson and Kitan Crawford, both viewed internally as future contributors.
The hire is rooted in familiarity. Golding and Toney share a long coaching history, first working together at Southeastern Louisiana from 2012–13 and later reuniting at UTSA from 2016–17. That continuity was a major factor as Ole Miss sought stability on defense while navigating a coaching transition during a playoff run.
Before making the jump to the NFL, Toney built a strong college résumé. He spent the 2022 season with the Florida Gators as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach, gaining SEC experience against top-tier competition. His most significant success came at Louisiana, where he served as defensive coordinator from 2018–21. In 2019, his unit finished first in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring defense at 18.3 points per game and ranked ninth nationally. The following season, Louisiana again placed among the conference’s best and finished top-35 nationally in both scoring and total defense.
A native of Poway, California, Toney graduated from Southeastern Louisiana in 2012 and has also coached at Sam Houston State, adding to a résumé that blends recruiting, schematic flexibility, and defensive back development. At just 35, he is viewed as an ascending coach with experience at every level of the sport.
The announcement comes as Ole Miss (13-1) prepares to face the Miami Hurricanes (12-2) in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium, with a berth in the national championship game on the line. Golding, who replaced Lane Kiffin after Kiffin departed for LSU in November, has emphasized keeping the team focused on football despite roster movement, staff turnover, and transfer-portal distractions.
By securing Toney early, Ole Miss stabilizes its defensive leadership beyond the postseason and signals long-term intent under Golding. The move pairs a head coach preaching trajectory with a coordinator who already understands his system, culture, and expectations — positioning the Rebels to carry momentum from a historic playoff run into the 2026 season and beyond.
Ole Miss’ decision to hire Patrick Toney comes as the Rebels balance postseason ambitions with long-term staff planning, following Pete Golding’s promotion after Lane Kiffin’s exit. Toney’s move from the NFL and prior SEC background were first detailed by ESPN, while USA Today and 247Sports highlighted his defensive résumé and long-standing ties to Golding as Ole Miss positions itself for continuity beyond the College Football Playoff run.
