Ole Miss Athletics Director Keith Carter dismissed Matt Luke as head football coach on Sunday, December 1, 2019, and has launched a search for the program’s next leader.
“After evaluating the overall trajectory of our football program, we did not see enough momentum on the field and determined a change is necessary in order for our student-athletes to compete at the highest level,” Carter said.
“While improvements were evident in certain aspects of the program, we are judged ultimately by our record, and, unfortunately, we did not meet the standard of success that we expect from our program. We will always be grateful to Coach Luke for his leadership, particularly from a recruiting, academic and overall culture standpoint. At the same time, winning is important, and we know that we can compete for championships at Ole Miss.
“A search is underway to find a new head coach who can build a complete program that attracts top talent, develops them as young men and sustains a winning mentality.”
“We will be looking for the leadership, energy and commitment to excellence necessary to compete in the Southeastern Conference and galvanize our passionate fan base.”
After one season as the interim coach, Luke was introduced as the program’s 38th head coach on November 27, 2017. He compiled a 15-21 record in three seasons, including a 4-8 record in 2019 that concluded with a 21-20 loss at Mississippi State on Thursday.
“I want to thank Coach Luke for his devotion to Ole Miss,” Carter said. “His integrity, class and dedication to this program and our student-athletes is unsurpassed, and we will always appreciate how he stepped up at a time when his university needed him the most. We wish him the very best, and he will always be a cherished member of the Ole Miss family.”
Carter will hold a press conference Monday at 11 am, and it will be broadcast live on SEC Network+ (on the ESPN app), OleMissSports.com and @OleMissSports on Twitter.
