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Will LSU-bound assistant coaches coach Ole Miss in Fiesta Bowl?
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- Will LSU-bound assistant coaches coach Ole Miss in Fiesta Bowl?
Ole Miss football coach Pete Golding doesn't have total assurance four LSU-bound assistants will stay for the Rebels' College Football Playoff semifinal game.
"They have every opportunity, like they have up to this point, to be able to make that decision," Golding said Jan. 3 in a Fiesta Bowl news conference. "Week in and week out, I don't dictate whether they do that or not. They are not employed by me. Up to this point that's how it's been, and that's my expectation."
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A source with direct knowledge of the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told USA TODAY Sports that offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. will continue coaching Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal against Miami.
HAYES: Lane Kiffin's foolish pride blinded him to what he had at Ole Miss
No. 6 Ole Miss (13-1) will face No. 10 Miami in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8 (7:30 p.m., ESPN) in in the CFP semifinals. The winner will advance to the national championship on Jan. 19 in Miami vs. the winner of the Jan. 9 Peach Bowl between Indiana and Oregon .
Weis is highest-ranking Ole Miss coach who will follow former coach Lane Kiffin to LSU. Weis, running backs coach Kevin Smith, wide receivers coach George McDonald and tight ends coach Joe Cox have been with Ole Miss and LSU simultaneously.
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It's an odd arrangement that has been successful . Ole Miss has beaten Tulane 41-10 and Georgia 39-34 in the CFP to advance to the Fiesta Bowl.
Golding said communication with Kiffin has been great, and the idea is to retain the outgoing coaches for the Fiesta Bowl and a potential national championship game.
"The idea is the same guys that have coached the same positions all year will do that in this game like they have up to this point," Golding said.
Since LSU is now employing the coaches, and their participation with Ole Miss is part of a gentlemen's agreement, Golding couldn't guarantee their status.
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"I don't know," Golding said. "Do you know if you are going to show up to work tomorrow? It's grown people making decisions. I have no idea. We're going to go out there and spot the ball. We've got plenty of people in this building who showed up this morning. We'll be just fine."
The transfer portal opened Jan. 2 and schools are trying to add to their rosters.
Conflicting reports about Kevin Smith
247Sports reported Jan. 3 that Smith will leave Ole Miss to be LSU's running backs coach on a full-time basis. On3 later reported Smith said he planned to finish out with Ole Miss.
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Ole Miss hired John David Baker to be the offensive coordinator on Dec. 9 for the 2026 season. Baker coached at ECU in 2024 and 2025. He was a 2024 Broyles Award Nominee in his first year, when ECU went 8-5.
Golding said there are plenty of coaches to turn to in event he needs a backup plan. He emphasized that the final result is dictated by players, not play callers. He is not worried about uncertainty spoiling the game plan.
"It's going to have no impact on the game, but y'all can keep blowing it up and make it a big deal," Golding said.
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Ole Miss assistants coach in CFP Fiesta Bowl before leaving for LSU?
