Freeze Resigns From Ole Miss

July 20, 2017 by CFP Staff

Hugh Freeze resigned today (Thursday, July 20), just 44 days before Ole Miss opens at home versus South Alabama. The resignation continues a messy trail of public relations issues and NCAA violations dating back to the Houston Nutt era.

The final straw may have been a call to an escort service found on Freeze's school-issued phone after Nutt filed suit against Freeze and Ole Miss in federal court a week earlier for allegedly orchestrating a smear campaign against him. Nutt lost his job after the 2011 season due to a handful of NCAA violations and a woeful final two seasons.

The NCAA has cited numerous violations by Freeze and his staff from October 2012 to January 2016 and leveled the most serious charge of lack of institutional control. In response, Ole Miss self-imposed a 2017 bowl ban and other restrictions.

Freeze was 39-25 in five seasons, but 5-7 in 2016. His teams were 19-21 in the SEC and finished 5th or worse in the SEC western division in 3 of his 5 seasons.

Matt Luke was tagged as the interim head coach. Luke has served alongside Freeze as co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.

See the full list of Coaching Changes for the 2017 season.