Monday, November 07, 2011

Ole' Misery is now Nutt-less



Office of the Chancellor
University, MS 38677-1848

Dear Ole Miss Family and Friends,

As you know, Ole Miss is dedicated to excellence in everything we do. Recently, our football team has not lived up to that expectation. With much thought and consideration, Athletics Director (AD) Pete Boone and I have decided that it is time for a head coaching change for our Rebel football team. We have high standards for all our athletics programs, and that level of competitiveness is not being reached on the football field.

As part of this decision, Pete has decided to announce his decision to step down as AD. Over the past year, Pete and I have discussed what would happen if a head coaching change might be needed. Pete felt that he would not be the right leader to oversee the process of hiring the next coach. I admired his honesty, and now I admire his respect for doing what he feels is right for the University as a whole.

Coach Nutt will complete the season, and Pete will serve as Athletics Director until a successor is hired sometime in 2012.

Furthermore, we have established a committee and a process to choose the next head coach. The committee will have five members, with representatives from the faculty, the athletics committee, the alumni and the M club. The University will be in good hands as our co-chairs will be football great Archie Manning and FedEx Executive Vice President and longstanding alumni leader Mike Glenn. The other positions on the committee have not been appointed, but they will be announced as soon as decisions are finalized.

The process to hire our next AD will also be led by a committee co-chaired by Archie Manning and Mike Glenn. Additional committee members, as well as the timetable for the search, have not yet been determined. I will, of course, keep you apprised of developments.

Your continued support of our University is critical to our success. I also promise continued dedication to excellence, including wins on the football field. I look forward to moving into the next chapter of the storied history of Ole Miss.

Sincerely,



Dan Jones, M.D.
Chancellor


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