The Mississippi Rebels have replaced Pete Boone with former Western Kentucky Hilltoppers athletic director Ross Bjork, the school announced Wednesday afternoon. Only 39, he continues Ole Miss' recent trend of going for youth over extensive experience — new football coach Hugh Freeze is 42.
School chancellor Dan Jones, in a statement:
"I've spent a lot of time with him," Jones said. "Integrity and character are important to me, and I'm very comfortable with his strengths on those attributes. I'm also very pleased with the professional track he's taken in college athletics. He has trained for this job through his education and a steady, upward track in athletic administration, and he's demonstrated a commitment to Ole Miss and to winning on and off the field."
Bjork presided over the last two years of Hilltoppers sports, during which the football team had its first-ever winning record as a Sun Belt team and the men's basketball team made the NCAA Tournament, though the latter's quite a bit more precedented. Prior to WKU, he worked in the athletic departments at Miami, Missouri, and UCLA.
For more on Rebels football, visit Ole Miss blog Red Cup Rebellion, plus SEC blog Team Speed Kills.