Ellis Johnson Hired As Southern Miss Football Head Coach

Southern Miss Hires Assistants Steve Buckley, Rickey Bustle And Tommy West

Southern Miss. Golden Eagles head football coach Ellis Johnson announced Thursday the hiring of assistant head coach and running backs coach Steve Buckley, offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle and defensive coordinator Tommy West.

Natchez, Mississippi native and So. Miss grad Steve Buckley comes to the job after five years as the head football coach at Petal High School, where he led his team to the Mississippi Class 6A State Championship game last month.

Rickey Bustle joins the Golden Eagle staff following a year as quarterbacks coach for Tulane in 2011. He was previously the head coach at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette from 2002-10 and offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Virginia Tech for seven seasons.

Tommy West spent 2011 at UAB as their defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Prior to that, he had stints as the head coach of the Memphis Tigers for nine seasons. West also spent five seasons as the head coach of the Clemson.

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Ellis Johnson Named Southern Miss Head Coach

There's a new coach in Hattiesburg, Miss. and he's a familiar face: it's Ellis Johnson, the defensive coordinator at South Carolina under Steve Spurrier, and former defensive coordinator for his new team, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, the school announced.

Johnson, 59, has been the Gamecock's DC for the past four seasons. He was the coordinator at Southern Miss in 1988 and 1989, and has also worked as the coordinator for Mississippi State, Alabama and Clemson. His last head coaching gig was at The Citadel from 2001-2003.

Johnson will replace Larry Fedora, who, after a 10-2 regular season, will coach the Golden Eagles in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl before he takes over as the head coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels next season.

Southern Miss has a reputation for a strong football program, one that was reinforced in their dominant win over Houston in the Conference USA Championship Game, the Cougars' first loss of 2011. They haven't however, made a BCS bowl in their history, something Johnson said he'd like to change in his introductory press conference.

"As I take over this program, I'm looking for something that's never been done before," Johnson said. "Frankly, there's very little left. It's intimidating, but it's also challenging."    

Johnson was signed to a four-year contract, but the financial details haven't been disclosed.

Ellis Johnson To Be Named Southern Miss Head Coach, According To Report

The Southern Miss coaching search, which had reportedly turned to names like Kirby Smart and Todd Monken, will indeed draw from the coordinator ranks for its ultimate hire, according to 247 Sports' South Carolina site. The Big Spur names South Carolina Gamecocks defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson as the next Golden Eagles coach, saying he was offered the job Monday and is expected to be announced shortly.

Johnson has been Carolina's defensive coordinator since 2008, previously gaining Magnolia State experience by manning the Mississippi St. Bulldogs D. He coached Southern Miss' defense in 1988 and 1989, advancing from there to Alabama and Clemson. His USM defenses improved from No. 77 in the country before he arrived to No. 61 and No. 49.

He also has head coaching experience at Gardner-Webb and alma mater The Citadel. 

The Gamecocks defense ranked No. 4 in the country in 2011, with top-15 finishes in both 2008 and 2009. His last MSU defense ranked No. 22.

For more Gamecocks, visit South Carolina blog Garnet and Black Attack and SEC blog Team Speed Kills. For all your college football needs, head to SB Nation's NCAA Football hub. 

Southern Miss. Coaching Search: Kirby Smart Reportedly Interviews, Withdraws From Consideration

Kirby Smart did interview for the vacant Southern Mississippi head coaching position on Friday, but withdrew from the search, according to a report. Smart was reportedly high on Southern Mississippi's list, but has decided to stay at Alabama. Southern Miss. is looking to replace Larry Fedora, who left for North Carolina after collecting the Conference USA title this season.

The report comes from ESPN's Mark Schlabach, who also added a few other names that may be in the mix.

Filed to ESPN: #Bama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart interviews with So. Miss and withdraws from consideration Friday night. Smart was considered top candidate to replace Larry Fedora; #Gamecocks DC Ellis Johnson and #Pokes OC Todd Monken also under consideration

Former Ole Miss defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix and Murray State's Chris Hatcher were also scheduled to interview on Friday as Southern Miss targets a variety of assistants for its head coaching position.

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Kirby Smart, Todd Monken Among Southern Miss Coaching Candidates

Southern Miss needs a coach to replace Larry Fedora, who has changed hats.

Larry Fedora's Press Conference: 'The Right Fit At The Right Time'

North Carolina introduced Larry Fedora its new head football coach on Friday.

The new coach spoke to media alongside North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham and chancellor Holden Thorp.

"I am honored and privileged to be the head football coach at the University of North Carolina. Let me say that again, I am honored and privileged to be the head football coach at the University of North Carolina. I've got to say that over and over again so that it'll sink in."

Thorp felt as though Fedora was a great fit for the university, which is looking to move past the allegations and investigations of the Butch Davis era.

"Larry Fedora is going to be a great fit for North Carolina. When I met with him it was clear that he understands that we are committed to being competitive in football and to building a program that exemplifies Carolina’s values."

Fedora said that he was undaunted to be the person coming in to clean up the house, so to speak.

"To be honest with you, it didn’t scare me. I’ve got a saying that adversity, it’s going to happen and it brings out the best in all of us. But when it does, you look it in the eye, you grab it by the throat and you choke it. ... That’s what we’re going to do with whatever adversity comes up, now or in the future."

Fedora will receive annual retention bonuses ranging from $100,000 to $350,000 beginning in 2015, as well as a one-time payment of $400,000 in the first year and an annual expense allowance of $30,000.

Before taking over at UNC, Fedora will guide Southern Miss in the Hawaii Bowl against Nevada on December 24.

Fedora's first team at Southern Miss broke 36 school records. He had previously been an assistant on the collegiate level at Oklahoma State, Florida, Middle Tennessee, Air Force and Baylor.

North Carolina finished 7-5 this season under interim coach Everett Withers, who will lead the Tar Heels in the Independence Bowl against Missouri on December 26.

Keep up with SB Nation's comprehensive UNC Coaching Search Rumors Story Stream and Tar Heels blog, Carolina March, for the latest updates and fan perspective on the Tar Heels head coaching search. For all your college football needs, head to SB Nation's NCAA Football hub.

Larry Fedora, New UNC Coach, Will Coach Southern Miss In Hawaii Bowl

Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora has officially been announced as the next head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels. The school has issued forth a release and everything, with an introductory press conference scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. 

Interesting note: Fedora will still coach Southern Miss in the Hawaii Bowl. Practice and prep for that game will take away from recruiting time, but have you ever tried to deny a man a trip to Hawaii? You haven't and shouldn't.

A little UNC reaction via Carolina March, from earlier in the week:

Fedora's teams at Southern Miss have had high octane offenses, with the defense typically lagging. He's also gone his entire career with one primary starting quarterback, Austin Davis, with the exception of six games he was out with a foot injury. The rushing defense was typically strong than the secondary, but this is the first season they've done a good job of limiting their opponent's scoring.    

AD Bubba Cunningham, from the release:

"We identified and spoke to a number of highly qualified coaches and the person whom we believe is the best to lead the Carolina football program forward is Larry Fedora," says UNC athletics director Bubba Cunningham. "We share great expectations for the potential of Carolina football and we are excited that he has agreed to be our next head coach.    

Keep up with SB Nation's comprehensive UNC Coaching Search Rumors Story Stream and Tar Heels blog, Carolina March, for the latest updates and fan perspective on the Tar Heels head coaching search. For all your college football needs, head to SB Nation's NCAA Football hub.

Larry Fedora, UNC Football Reach Agreement, According To Report

Larry Fedora and the North Carolina Tar Heels have reportedly reached an agreement for the current Southern Miss Golden Eagles head coach to take the same position with the Tar Heels. Fedora has been linked with the job several times in the past few days, but it seems that a deal is now all but official.

Fedora reached an agreement in principle with the Tar Heels to be next head coach, according to a tweet from the always excellent Bruce Feldman. Feldman reports that his source told him the deal was agreed to early Wednesday morning, meaning an announcement could be on its way shortly.

The Tar Heels job isn't an exceptional one, but as SB Nation's Bill Connelly notes, it's probably a step up from the head job at Southern Miss.

Five-Year F/+ Avg: +7.3% (35th)
Five-Year Record: 35-28
All-Time Record: 602-470-48
Five-Year Attendance Average: 57,065 (Capacity: 60,000)

Fedora, who led Southern Miss to an 11-2 record this season, apparently was chosen over Gus Malzahn, Everett Withers and possibly Skip Holtz -- though the latter denied those rumors.

Keep up with SB Nation's comprehensive UNC Coaching Search Rumors Story Stream and Tar Heels blog, Carolina March, for the latest updates and fan perspective on the Tar Heels head coaching search. For all your college football needs, head to SB Nation's NCAA Football hub.

Larry Fedora Hired As UNC Football Coach, According To Report

The North Carolina Tar Heels have hired Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora to replace Butch Davis, according to the Winston-Salem Journal's Bill Cole. Fedora met with athletic director Bubba Cunningham Monday night, agreeing then to take the job, according to Cole's report. 

Fedora has been a frequent guest on many a coaching candidates list throughout the country, but his name took off after USM upset otherwise unbeaten Houston to win the Conference USA title. He's been connected with the Ole Miss and Texas A&M jobs at various points. If UNC is about to hire him, that probably means UCLA will now start targeting him. That was a joke.

Cole reports the deal could be announced shortly.

Keep up with SB Nation's comprehensive UNC Coaching Search Rumors Story Stream and Tar Heels blog, Carolina March, for the latest updates and fan perspective on the Tar Heels head coaching search. For all your college football needs, head to SB Nation's NCAA Football hub.

Larry Fedora To Be Named North Carolina Head Coach, According To Reports

Larry Fedora is expected to accept the head coaching job at North Carolina, according to multiple reports, including CBSSports.com, which lists a host of confirmations.

Fedora is the head coach at Southern Miss, which he led to an 11-2 campaign this season, capped by a surprise win in the Conference USA championship game against previously undefeated Houston.

No official announcement has been made. Gatorsports.com's Pat Dooley tweeted, "My source tells me Larry Fedora is new North Carolina coach. That's great for him. Good fit as well." But followed up that report by saying it wasn't a done deal:

I know this -- as of this morning, Fedora did not have an offer from NC. He also interviewed at A&M. He's from College Station. So we'll see. Hmm, sounds like Fedora to NC not a done deal. They want him, but will A&M offer? His dad is still a barber in College Station.

Ah, the old "Dad is still a barber" hang-up. Classic.

Keep up with SB Nation's comprehensive UNC Coaching Search Rumors Story Stream and Tar Heels blog, Carolina March, for the latest updates and fan perspective on the Tar Heels head coaching search. For all your college football needs, head to SB Nation's NCAA Football hub.