Delta State will have to begin a search for a new head football coach as Todd Cooley is stepping down from his post in Cleveland to join Pete Golding’s staff at Ole Miss.
Golding is bringing Cooley in to be an assistant in Oxford. Cooley, whose services will especially be utilized in high school recruiting, is the winningest coach in Delta State history. Cooley led the Statesmen to an overall record of 82-49 and four Division II playoff appearances after being hired as head coach in 2013. He also mentored quarterback Patrick Shegog when he became the first DII player in over two decades to win the Conerly Trophy as Mississippi’s top college football player.
Prior to becoming the head coach at Delta State, Cooley served in various offensive coaching capacities at Arkansas Tech, Northeastern State, Ouachita State, Central Arkansas, and Northwestern State.
Golding, a former Delta State player and coach, has a lot of respect for Cooley and the work he did in Cleveland.
When evaluating Wydett Williams Jr., a safety who had played at Delta State for two years before transferring to Louisiana-Monroe, in the portal ahead of the most recent season, Golding leaned on advice from Cooley in determining whether or not Williams would be a good fit for the Ole Miss defense. Williams went on to be a shining star in the secondary, totaling 42 solo tackles, nine pass deflections, and three interceptions in his lone season with the Rebels. His efforts played an integral role in the team making its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance and being one play away from competing in the national championship game.
Golding rounds out coaching staff
Cooley isn’t the only newly-announced addition to the Ole Miss staff. On Wednesday, Golding hired Miami tight ends coach Cody Woodiel. Woodiel, a DeSoto County native, began his coaching career at Itawamba Community College, where he oversaw the offensive line, before being picked up by Mario Cristobal at Oregon in 2017. From there, he coached under Cristobal’s tutelage in both Eugene and Miami.
Other notable Ole Miss staffers set to be on the sidelines or in the box when the 2026-27 season kicks off are:
- Offensive coordinator — John David Baker
- Defensive coordinator — Patrick Toney
- Quarterbacks — Joe Judge
- Offensive line — John Garrison
- Running backs — Frank Wilson
- Wide receivers — L’Damian Washington
- Assistant wide receivers — Micheal Spurlock
- Co-defensive coordinator/secondary — Bryan Brown
- Defensive line — Randall Joyner
- Linebackers — Jay Shoop
- Safeties — Wes Neighbors III
- Special teams coach — Jake Schoonover
Ole Miss will open the new season versus Louisville on Sept. 5 or 6. The game will be played in Nashville’s Nissan Stadium.