Hugh Freeze
Track Record:
Briarcrest HS, TN (HC) — 1995-2004
Ole Miss (TE, Recruiting Coordinator) — 2006-07
Lambuth (HC) — 2008-09
Arkansas State (OC) — 2010
Arkansas State (HC) — 2011
Ole Miss (HC) — 2012-16
Pros: Freeze has had success as an offensive coordinator before, and his offenses at Ole Miss were always his strongest asset. It was because of his offenses that Ole Miss was able to defeat Alabama as often as they did when Freeze was there. Not only that, but Freeze has ties to the state of Tennessee in recruiting thanks to his time at Briarcrest in the 1990s through the early 2000s. He’s just one of four head coaches ever to defeat a Nick Saban-led team in back-to-back seasons. Jeremy Pruitt had to scheme against Freeze’s offenses while at Alabama, so he knows firsthand what kind of mind Freeze has.
Cons/Questions: The downsides of hiring Freeze are obvious. Bringing in Freeze would immediately draw the attention of the NCAA, and Freeze’s baggage has been well-documented by NCAA investigations. Not only did he have some dirty tactics on the recruiting trail, but there was the issue of him contacting a “female escort” as well. It remains to be seen if the SEC offices would give Tennessee the okay to hire Freeze if that’s the road they choose to go down.
