Breaking: Ole Miss fires head coach Matt Luke

  • Story by Sportstalk Mississippi Ole Miss Beat Reporter Brian Scott Rippee 

Ole Miss has fired head football coach Matt Luke, a source with knowledge of the situation has confirmed to SuperTalk Mississippi.

RebelGrove was the first to report the news. Luke went 15-21 (6-18) in three seasons, including a 6-6 mark in 2017 after taking over for former head man Hugh Freeze, who resigned in July before the season.

Luke was tasked with guiding the program through the haze of NCAA sanctions stemming from a half-decade long investigation. Ole Miss’ win-loss record regressed each season under Luke as the Rebels finished off a 4-8 season on Thursday night with a 21-20 loss at Mississippi State on a missed extra point that was aided by a personal foul penalty sophomore wide receiver Elijah Moore after scoring a potentially game-tying touchdown. The incident put the program in the national spotlight for all the wrong reasons and was heavily scrutinized by the national media.

The news is the first major decision newly-minted athletics director Keith Carter has made since taking over the reins to the permanent job two weeks ago. Sources indicated to SuperTalk a team meeting will be held at 8 P.M. in which Luke will have an opportunity to address the team one final time.

The school will now conduct a national search for its next head coach. The early signing period for recruits in the 2020 class begins on Dec. 18, and the expectation is that a hire will be made by then. 

**This story will be updated as more information becomes available.**

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