clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Hugh Freeze now making $3 million at Ole Miss

Freeze has improved the Rebels' regular-season record in each of his two years with the team.

Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

Fresh off a 7-5 regular season and a berth in the Music City Bowl, Ole Miss and head coach Hugh Freeze have agreed to a one-year contract extension, the school announced. Freeze's new annual base salary is $3 million, with a $150,000 increase every year.

More on Ole MissRed Cup Rebellion

The head coach took over in Oxford following a disastrous 2011 season, in which Ole Miss went 2-10 and was winless in SEC play under Houston Nutt. In 2012, Freeze guided the Rebels to a 6-6 regular season and a surprise postseason appearance, a 38-17 win over Pittsburgh in the BBVA Compass Bowl. This year, the Rebels improved on that record and picked up wins over Texas and LSU. However, they also suffered a 17-10 defeat to in-state rival Mississippi State, which allowed the Bulldogs to attain bowl eligibility.

Freeze has done a nice job of attracting young talent to play for his team. Ole Miss signed the eighth-best class in the 2013 recruiting cycle, per 247 Sports, including the nation's top prospect, defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche. Other standouts from the class were five-star offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil, wide receiver Laquon Treadwell and safety Tony Connor. Tunsil and fellow freshman tight end Evan Engram were named second-team All-SEC by the Associated Press on Monday.

With Freeze, known for his up-tempo offensive scheme, Ole Miss has averaged more than 30 points and 420 yards of offense per game in 2012 and 2013.

More from SB Nation college football:

Interactive bowl season calendar with picks and links to more coverage:

Screen_shot_2013-12-09_at_2

What the Playoff would look like, from four to 32 teams

Ranking all 35 bowl games by watchability

College football news | Mack Brown denies he’s Texas

Long CFB reads | The night Baylor died in Stillwater