Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding arrested for DUI, jailed overnight

Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding was arrested early Thursday morning for DUI, according to Tuscaloosa County jail records. The report states Stephen Thomas Golding was arrested by the Northport Police Department around 1 a.m. and jailed overnight with a bond set at $500. 

“I am deeply sorry for the actions that led to my arrest last night. I sincerely apologize to my family, everyone in our organization, including our players, Coach Saban, the staff, The University of Alabama, and our fans,” wrote Golding in an apology released by the university. “Regardless of the outcome of this pending investigation, I did not uphold the values I have for myself and the values of the Alabama football program. I am committed to learning and growing from this mistake and I will work to earn back the trust of those who I have disappointed.”

Golding, who is 37 and goes by Pete, was hired by Alabama in 2018 to be the team’s inside linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator along with Tosh Lupoi, but he was elevated to the sole DC position following Lupoi’s departure in 2019. Alabama has finished in the top three in the SEC in total defense in three of Golding’s four seasons in Tuscaloosa. The 2021 Crimson Tide defense finished second in the SEC, allowing just 304.1 yards per game, and third in defensive yards per play at 4.77.

“Alabama Athletics is aware of the incident involving Pete Golding,” said a school statement. “We are mindful of the seriousness of the situation and will continue to gather more information to address this personnel matter.”

Now in his fifth season with the Crimson Tide, Golding is known as an excellent recruiter. In the 2022 recruiting cycle, Golding finished as the nation’s No. 3 recruiter, per 247Sports, with eight commitments. Alabama signed the No. 2 class for 2022 during Wednesday’s National Signing Day. 

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban commented on Golding’s recruiting prowess on Wednesday.

“Pete’s got a great personality,” Saban said, per 247Sports. “I think he really works hard at it, he’s a really good coach and he has a good relationship with the players on our team. And I think when players talk to the players on our team, they sort of get that feedback, and that’s all helpful in terms of players feeling comfortable here, knowing that they have a good relationship with the coach that recruited them but also with the coach that’s gonna coach them and a lot of the other people involved in the organization. So Pete does a good job of selling all those things in a positive way.”



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