Al Golden

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Alfred James Golden Jr. (born July 4, 1969) is an American football coach who is currently the linebackers coach for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL).

He worked at Temple from 2006 to 2010.

He has also served as a defensive coordinator at Virginia (2001-2005), as the head coach at University of Miami (2011–2015).

He's also a former tight end for the New England Patriots of the NFL.

On October 25, 2015, he was fired from Miami.

Personal life

Golden, a native of Colts Neck, New Jersey, graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School, Red Bank, New Jersey, in 1991 and earned his undergraduate degree in sports psychology from the University of Virginia in December 1996. He is married to Kelly Elizabeth Hanna of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, and has a son, A.J. (Alfred James II) Golden, two sons, and two daughters, Addison Elizabeth Golden and Grace Hanna Golden.

Golden wore a dress shirt, slacks, and a tie in school colors on the sidelines for the bulk of his head coaching career, unlike most coaches of his time.

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Playing career

Golden was a three-year (1989-1991) letter winner and an unfortunate end for Penn State, where he was named on the 1991 Ridge Riley Award, which is given annually to a player who exemplifies excellence in scholarship, sportsmanship, community, and leadership. Golden, a senior in 1990, was a major contributor to Penn State's nationally broadcast 24-21 upset of #1-ranked Notre Dame at South Bend. Penn State defeated Penn State from a 21–7 deficit, with his touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter tied the score at 21. Golden was named captain of the Nittany Lions his senior year and helped them beat University of Tennessee 42–17 in the 1992 Fiesta Bowl, an 11–2 record and the highest ranking in the final 1991 AP Poll.

As a tight end, Golden spent the 1992 season in the National Football League with the New England Patriots as a close close.

Coaching career

Golden began his teaching career in 1993 as the offensive coordinator at Red Bank Catholic High School in Red Bank, New Jersey. He then served as a graduate assistant under George Welsh at University of Virginia from 1994 to 1996, where he concentrated on the linebackers and special teams. He was one of the draft's top linebackers James Farrior and Jamie Sharper, both of whom were chosen in the 1997 NFL Draft. Under Tom O'Brien, he then coached linebackers at Boston College from 1997 to 1999. Frank Chamberlin and Erik Storz, both from Boston College, coached All-Big East linebackers Frank Chamberlin and Erik Storz. The Eagles made their first postseason bowl appearance since 1994, finishing with an 8–3 record and a top-25 national ranking in 1999.

Golden, Virginia head coach Al Groh's 2001, appointed defensive coordinator as the youngest defensive coordinator in Division I-A. He spent the previous season at Penn State University, as linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator under head coach Joe Paterno. The Cavaliers' defense soared under his tutelage from 2001 to 2004, placing 108th in total defense in his first year to ranked 18th in total defense in 2004. Virginia's scoring defense increased from 74th in the country (27.6 ppg) to 17th (17.7 ppg) using Golden's 3–4 defense.

Golden was named head football coach at Temple University in December 2005 as the second-youngest head coach in NCAA football at the time, behind Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald. During the three years before Golden was hired, Temple had a record of 331-31, but had just been kicked out of the Big East Conference for non-competitiveness. Temple had 1–11 in 2006, 4–8, and then 5–7 in 2008, when it was first in Golden's first three years as king. The 2008 record was the best for the program since a 7–4 mark in 1990.

The Owls won their first winning season since 1990. It was also their best record since 1979, the first time they appeared in a postseason game, before facing the UCLA Bruins in the EagleBank Bowl on December 29, 2009. The Owls were defeated 31-21 by the Bruins after leading for three quarters.

In December 2007, Golden was interviewed for the UCLA head coach position. However, he withdrew his name from consideration on December 26, 2007, opting to stick with the up-and-coming Temple program. Following the 2009 season, he was a candidate for the head coaching position at the University of Cincinnati, which was vacated by Brian Kelly, who left for Notre Dame. He later requested that his name be barred from consideration for the position. He was also a candidate for the Tennessee job open to Lane Kiffin, who then moved to Southern California, during the same offseason. Golden also agreed to a contract extension with Temple beginning in May 2010. In 2010, he led the Owls to an 8–4 record.

Golden was hired and accepted the head coaching job at the University of Miami on December 12, 2010.

Golden emphasized the University of Miami's football legacy in his press conference address on December 13, 2010. "It's the most well-known brand in college football," the narrator said. "I go back to the former athletes who are here, the five national championships, 20 national award winners, and a slew of All-Americans. It's a dream job." On December 14, 2010, Golden signed a five-year deal at an undisclosed salary. Golden did not coach the football team in Miami's bowl game against Notre Dame due to NCAA rules, but instead concentrated on recruiting players for 2011. Despite fielding multiple future NFL draft picks, Golden was unable to defeat Florida State, his state rival, in 5 attempts. During Golden's first two years with the program, his tenure was marred by probation from a previous booster scandal and self-imposed bowl bans.

In his first year at the University of Miami, Golden set a 6-6 record. The 2011 season was the third time the program had failed to post a winning record since 1979. Despite being bowleligible, Miami reported on November 20 that it was withdrawing from bowl consideration due to an ongoing probe into Nevin Shapiro, a federal Ponzi schemer.

In 2012, the Hurricanes set a 7-0 record and were vying for a Coastal Division title for a large portion of the year. However, Miami reported on November 19 that it was no longer under scrutiny for the NCAA probe, with the NCAA probe still unanswered. School officials recalled how Ohio State decided to play in a bowl in the 2011 season, only to be barred from bowl consideration the following year.

The Golden's third season in Miami saw more improvement than the previous two seasons. The Hurricanes got off to a 7-0 start, with a win over Florida and a No. 7 in the AP Poll, with a win over rival Florida. Florida State's first defeat, which culminated in a 3-game losing streak for the Miami team. The Hurricanes finished the regular season 9-3 (5-3 ACC), good for second place in the Coastal Division. Golden's crew was invited to the 2013 Russell Athletic Bowl, in which the Canes lost 36–9 at the hands of future ACC rivals Louisville.

Many people were dissatisfied with Golden's fourth season in Miami. The Hurricanes began the season with a 6–3 record, but they lost their next four games, beginning with a devastating home loss to defending National Champions Florida State and ending with an uninspired loss in the Duck Commander Independence Bowl to South Carolina. Despite being ranked by several experts to win the ACC Coastal Division Championship and seven of its players being drafted by NFL franchises, tied with Alabama for 4th most by a school, behind only Florida State (11), Louisville (10), and Florida (8).

The Hurricanes began their season with a 3–0 record over Florida Atlantic University, Bethune-Cookman, and Nebraska. However, the Cincinnati Bearcats defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium in their fourth game. Fans erupted to see his instant dismissal, as well as flying anti-Golden banners before games. And with a GoFundMe campaign, Florida State Seminoles fans got in on the game, raising funds for their own "Keep Al Golden" banner. Since area banner planes were booked for the tournament between the storied rivals on October 10, 2015, funds raised were instead donated to the Kidz 1st Fund charitable group in lieu of hiring a plane. According to other reports, Florida State and Miami officials compelled the campaign's chief not to fly the banner out of respect for the coach. Archrivals Florida State sarcastically expressed their admiration for Golden's ability in guiding the once-mighty Hurricanes and began selling identically themed "Keep It Golden" T-shirts at their official bookstore during the year's match. Fans in Tallahassee and FSU's Doak Campbell Stadium mocked the formerly fearful Hurricanes' location on the day.

Many in national media picked Miami to have a good chance of covering the spread and possibly even upset the Tigers after being ranked as a 7-point home underdog to Clemson in Week 8. Despite this, Clemson jumped out to a 45-0 lead before pulling out their starters. The Hurricanes suffered by a score of 58–0, putting Clemson's worst loss in the 90-year history of the program. Only a day after the loss, University of Miami athletic director Blake James was fired as head coach. In over four seasons with the Hurricanes, Golden was 32-25 (17-18 in the ACC) (19-18-18). Golden said in a tweet, "I want to thank the University of Miami for a tremendous opportunity on behalf of my family." "I believe in what we're doing and how we're doing it." Our football team boasts some outstanding young men. "Even though the moment is trying, we wish the Canes the best of luck going forward."

Golden was named tight ends coach of the Detroit Lions on February 1, 2016. Golden was named linebackers coach of the Lions on February 7, 2018. He was fired on December 31, 2019.

Golden was hired by the Cincinnati Bengals as their linebackers coach on January 20, 2020. He missed the team's week ten games against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to COVID-19 pandemic protocols.

Golden was announced as Notre Dame's new defensive coordinator on February 16, 2022, under newly promoted head coach Marcus Freeman.

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