Hugh Freeze will not be leaving Ole Miss to replace Will Muschamp at Florida.
Hugh Freeze signs $4 million Ole Miss deal, Josh McDaniels a Florida consideration
One of the country’s most sought after coaches has made his decision on 2015, and the Gators’ list narrows.
The Rebels head coach has signed a new deal that will pay him $4 million annually for the next four years, plus a bonus consideration for his staff estimated between $400,000 and $600,000, according to multiple sources. Four years is the maximum allowable number of years under state law. An announcement from Ole Miss is expected Tuesday.
Extension talks between Freeze and Ole Miss began earlier in the season, then intensified. The Gators’ interest -- an offer in the neighborhood of $4.2 to $4.3 million annually fielded by Freeze’s representatives, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the talks -- helped drive Ole Miss to the $4 million mark.
As for Florida’s next move, New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is a consideration, according to one source, confirming a report by Football Scoop, although there is concern regarding McDaniels’ availability to join Florida immediately upon his hire. The Ohio native and longtime Bill Belichick assistant has not coached in college since a stint as a graduate assistant at Nick Saban’s Michigan State, and his only head coaching experience came in 2009 and 2010 with the Denver Broncos.
Yahoo! Sports’ Pat Forde reports Colorado State’s Jim McElwain is a “leading candidate,” and the Gainesville Sun’s Pat Dooley says TCU’s Gary Patterson shouldn’t be ruled out.
Freeze compiled a 15-11 record over his first two seasons, including two bowl berths. Ole Miss reached as high as No. 4 in the Playoff rankings this season before finishing 9-3.
Freeze took over an Ole Miss program in 2012 that had gone 6-18 in the previous two seasons, including a 1-15 mark in SEC play. Prior to 2013’s 8-5 season, Ole Miss had been to just two bowl games from 2004-11. The Rebels’ 2013 recruiting class ranked No. 8 on the 247Sports Composite and included No. 1 overall prospect Robert Nkemdiche.
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