One of the more noteworthy hires of the offseason was Matt Luke hiring former Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez to be the Rebels’ offensive coordinator.

Rodriguez offers a more run-oriented attack that Ole Miss hopes will improve its lackluster play in the red zone. This is the first time Rodriguez is an assistant in nearly 20 years after being a head coach at West Virginia and Michigan prior to his stint in Arizona. Luke offered a preview of what to expect from the offense.

“That’s what immediately comes to mind, but to get a little bit more Xs and Os and scheme-wise, you have to be able to defend all 11 players,” Luke said at SEC Media Days, referring to quarterback mobility putting pressure on defenses.

“The more I spoke with Rich, the more I saw that we were aligned,” Luke said. “With a young offense, one of the things I’ve always noticed with his offenses is the fact that he gets the most out of his players and they’re always playing with a toughness and an edge. That’s really what you need in this league to sustain a winner.”

Luke has already noticed changes.

“I was very, very impressed with Rich Rodriquez this spring, not only implementing his offense, but seeing the attitude and the toughness that he’s instilling in that side of the ball,” he said. “And I think that’s going to be a dynamic unit. It’s going to be fun to watch.”

Rodriguez was part of a staff overhaul for Ole Miss as former Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre is the new defensive coordinator.

“I think when you hire two former National Coaches of the Year, I think that obviously brings a wealth of knowledge to your staff, but I think it also makes a statement,” Luke said. “I think it makes a statement to our commitment to winning and about what we’re trying to do at Ole Miss.”

Luke sidestepped a question about Rodriguez leaving Arizona and the circumstances behind it. Rodriguez was fired from Arizona following last season after six seasons amid sexual harassment allegations by a former administrative assistant. Rodriguez has denied the claims.