It’s official: Bjork to be next Ole Miss AD

Ole Miss’ search to find the next person to lead the athletics department is finally over. After searching for Pete Boone’s replacement since he announced his decision to step aside as AD last November, Ole Miss officially hired Western Kentucky Athletics Director Ross Bjork to the same position today. He is expected to be introduced at a press conference Thursday.

According to a release from Ole Miss, Bjork will take over in mid-April. A committee led by former Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning and FedEx executive Mike Glenn helped recommend Bjork to Chancellor Dan Jones. (March 21, 2012, Page 6)

AD search may be coming to a close

BLOG: According to various reports Ole Miss has found its next athletics director.

The Bowling Green Daily News is reporting that current Western Kentucky Athletics Director Ross Bjork will be named Pete Boone‘s successor. (more…) (March 20, 2012)

Walker to leave Ole Miss after season

For Joe Walker, family comes first. After three decades of developing national champions for the Ole Miss Track and Field program, Walker will step away following the 2012 season with plans to join his oldest son, Joe III, on the Louisville track staff. (February 29, 2012, Page 6)

Coaching searches were once very public

There will be lots of news coming out about who the next Ole Miss football coach will, or might, be. Editor Don Whitten recalls a time during his sports writing days when coaching searches were very open and even involved interviews with the media. (November 28, 2011, Page 4A)

Boone, Jones talk about Nutt decision

VIDEO BLOG: Ole Miss Athletics Director Pete Boone and Dan Jones both talk about the decision to not retain Houston Nutt as the program’s head coach after this season. (more…) (November 9, 2011)

Nutt out at Ole Miss after four seasons

Monday’s weekly press conference for Ole Miss football coach Houston Nutt had a much bigger audience than normal. Instead of questions about the Rebels’ next opponent, Louisiana Tech, Nutt gave an opening statement about his four years at Ole Miss and then took questions on why he thought he was not being retained as the program’s coach.

Nutt said the administration’s decision to let him go as head coach Sunday night boiled down to wins and losses. Nutt, who started his career in Oxford with back-to-back trips to the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic, said he understood the decision and why Monday’s press conference was called in the first place. (November 8, 2011, Page 8)

It’s easy to see where things went wrong

COLUMN: It’s still hard to believe that Houston Nutt is out as Ole Miss’ football coach less than four years after he arrived in Oxford.

This was a man who filled up the Gertrude Ford Performing Arts Center on campus to hold his introductory press conference with media and fans. This was a man who could have been elected mayor after leading the Rebels to back-to-back Cotton Bowl wins in his first two seasons. He was the choice of so many fans when he was hired. He was the man with head coaching experience that everyone was clamoring for. (more…) (November 8, 2011, Page 8)

Boone to step down no later than Dec. 2012

Four years ago, Pete Boone stated that Houston Nutt would be the last football coach he hired.

The Ole Miss athletics director appears to have been telling the truth.

On Monday, Boone reaffirmed his statement by announcing that he plans to step aside as athletics director no later than Dec. 2012. (November 8, 2011, Page 8)

Coaching merry-go-round has to stop at UM

All of the smoke surrounding the Ole Miss football program flamed up big-time Monday with the announcement that Houston Nutt will end his coaching career here this season. Editor Don Whitten takes a look at the past and future of the program, which will soon have its fourth head coach in a decade, and writes that a long-term commitment is essential for success for the Rebels. (November 8, 2011, Page 4)

UPDATED: Nutt will not be retained; Boone to resign

BLOG: It appears Houston Nutt‘s tenure as Ole Miss’ head coach has come to an end. (more…) (November 7, 2011)