The Zeitgeist List · coaching

Ole Miss: a football coaching history

Power Program I#14 of 138–
See Ole Miss’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →
← all coaches
Program GOAT
John Vaught
Peaked at Power Program I
Built by
John Vaught
National Program III → Power Program I (+43.5)
The fall
Ken Cooper
Power Program II → Power Program III (−10.0)
Right now
Pete Golding
in year 2 — too new to place in Ole Miss's history

Stature & coaches, 1936–2026

The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.

program stature (★ = Dynasty-tier season)MehreVaughtSloanBrewerCutcliffeFreezeKiffin19401960198020002020

Every coach

2025–now
Pete Goldingshort tenure
2–1
2020–now
Lane Kiffincaretaker
Lane Kiffin moved Ole Miss from National Program I to Power Program II in 6 seasons.
+9.4
55–19
2017–2019
Matt Lukecaretaker
Matt Luke held Ole Miss at Power Program III for 3 seasons.
Power Program III
15–21
2012–2016
Hugh Freezecaretaker
Hugh Freeze moved Ole Miss from National Program II to Power Program III in 5 seasons.
+11.3
39–25
2008–2011
Houston Nuttcaretaker
Houston Nutt moved Ole Miss from National Program III to National Program I in 4 seasons.
National Program I
24–26
2005–2007
Ed Orgeroncaretaker
Ed Orgeron slid Ole Miss from National Program I to National Program II in 3 seasons.
−9.1
10–25
1998–2004
David Cutcliffecaretaker
David Cutcliffe moved Ole Miss from National Program II to National Program I in 7 seasons.
National Program I
44–29
1995–1998
Tommy Tubervillecaretaker
Tommy Tuberville held Ole Miss at National Program II for 4 seasons.
National Program II
25–20
1994–1994
Joe Lee Dunnshort tenure
4–7
1983–1993
Billy Brewercaretaker
Billy Brewer held Ole Miss at National Program II for 11 seasons.
National Program II
66–57
1978–1982
Steve Sloancaretaker
Steve Sloan slid Ole Miss from Power Program III to National Program I in 5 seasons.
−9.1
20–34
1974–1977
Ken Coopercaretaker
Ken Cooper held Ole Miss at Power Program II for 4 seasons.
−10.0
19–25
1971–1972
Billy Kinardshort tenure
15–7
1947–1973
John Vaughttransformer
John Vaught took Ole Miss from National Program III to Power Program I.
+43.5
190–61
1946–1946
Red Drewshort tenure
2–7
1938–1945
Harry Mehrecaretaker
Harry Mehre moved Ole Miss from National Program III to National Program I in 7 seasons.
+10.0
39–26
1936–1937
Ed Walkershort tenure
9–10