Ole Miss has hired a search firm to help it find a new football coach following the resignation of Hugh Freeze.

Athletics Director Ross Bjork told The Clarion-Ledger that the search is his top priority while interim coach Matt Luke coaches the team this season. The newspaper reported that if this was a normal search that took place after the season, there may not have been a need for a search firm. But given the amount of time Ole Miss has to conduct this search, Bjork suggested one.

“We’re through with that (the Committee On Infractions hearing). We have to do what’s best with the program,” Bjork said, “and we believe that included hiring a search firm. We selected Turnkey Search on August 31 to assist us with the search process. We have stayed true to our plan.”

Bjork told the Clarion-Ledger that Turnkey was hired by LSU and Temple for their football searches, and athletics director searches at Alabama, Tennessee, Michigan and Minnesota.

Adding resources, confidentiality and background checks were among the reason the firm was chosen.

When asked if the background checks were a priority after Freeze’s resignation, which was tied to calls to escort services, Bjork said: “We would do that part anyway, but the heightened nature of what has transpired, I think, puts more emphasis on that piece.”

Ole Miss is still waiting on a ruling from the COI, but the AD said he still plays to be a part of making the decision on the next football coach.

“There has been no indication otherwise. I talk to the chancellor (Jeff Vitter) pretty much every day,” Bjork said. “The affirmation from the chancellor to Turnkey has been given that I’m the athletic director, I’m moving this program forward and I’m going to work. That’s how we’re approaching it.”

For his part, SEC Network commentator and radio host Paul Finebaum has said that Ole Miss will “probably get slammed” by the NCAA.