Nix named D coordinator at Ole Miss
12/11/2007
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OXFORD, Mississippi (Ticker) - Ole Miss football coach Houston
Nutt raided the staff of a Southeastern Conference rival to
strengthen his own. Nutt announced Tuesday that former South Carolina defensive
coordinator Tyrone Nix has decided to leave the Gamecocks and
coach Steve Spurrier to serve as defensive coordinator on Nutt's
first staff with the Rebels. Nix, 35, has been one of the youngest defensive coordinators in
Division I college football for the past seven years, running
the defense at Southern Miss - his alma mater - and most
recently South Carolina. "Tyrone Nix is one of the up-and-coming, bright defensive
coordinators in America," Nutt said. "I love the fact that he
has a deep connection with the state of Mississippi. He has a
great name in this state, has recruited the state and knows the
high school coaches. Tyrone is also an excellent teacher and
knows how to relate to young men." This year, Nix's Gamecocks unit was No. 1 in the SEC and ranked
fifth nationally in pass defense, allowing just 168.8 yards per
game. In 2006, South Carolina was sixth in the SEC and 29th in
the country in scoring defense, surrendering 18.7 points per
game. "Tyrone Nix is a good person, a wonderful family man and an
outstanding football coach," Spurrier said. "We wish him the
very best at Ole Miss except when they play the Gamecocks. We
understand change is part of the coaching profession and
hopefully this will be a good move for everyone. I can say to
the Gamecocks that I will try my best to hire a proven,
outstanding defensive coordinator." Nix graduated from Southern Miss in 1995 after a standout career
as a linebacker and team captain. During his 10 years on the
Southern Miss staff, Nix coached every position on defense and
served as defensive coordinator the last four seasons, when the
Golden Eagles' defense was among college football's toughest. From 2001-03, Southern Miss was ranked in the top 15 in the
nation in both scoring defense and pass efficiency defense each
season. "My family and I have had a wonderful time here in Columbia,
South Carolina," Nix said. "I've had an opportunity to work for
one of the best head coaches in the game and I've learned a lot
of football from him. "Change is a part of this profession and I think the best thing
for me at this time is to go work for the University of
Mississippi and see what we can get done there. It will be
great to be closer to home."
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