HOT BOARD: Ole Miss searches for new defensive coordinator
Ole Miss announced Saturday afternoon defensive coordinator Dave Wommack is retiring following the 2016 season. Wommack is in his fifth year as Ole Miss defensive coordinator, joining Hugh Freeze in Oxford in 2012.
“I'm grateful to God for more than 38 rewarding years as a college football coach,” Wommack said in a release. “I worked alongside remarkable men to shape the lives of my players for the better. I'll carry with me the relationships and lessons this game has given me as I look forward to enjoying this next chapter with my family.”
Wommack's best season in Oxford was 2014, when the Rebels led the nation in scoring defense and played in their first of two straight access bowls.
Here's a list of potential candidates to replace Wommack.
Wesley McGriff - Auburn Secondary Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator
Why it would work: McGriff was one of Freeze’s star recruiters when Freeze took over at Ole Miss. He played a huge role in the landing of Robert Nkemdiche, Laquon Treadwell and others. He left for the New Orleans Saints, where he improved his technical chops on Sean Payton’s staff. According to sources, Freeze flirted with the idea of bringing McGriff back to Oxford a year ago, but he was loyal to Corey Batoon instead. Instead, McGriff joined Gus Malzahn at Auburn.
Why it wouldn't work: McGriff has never been a defensive coordinator at this level, so it would be a risky hire at this point to turn over a struggling defense to him. That’s really the only negative, but it’s potentially a big one.
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