Billy Kinard

Billy Kinard, older brother of Ole Miss legend Frank “Bruiser” Kinard, played college football at Ole Miss in the 1950’s and later returned to Oxford to serve as the Rebels’ head coach for three seasons from 1971-1973. He began his coaching career as the running backs coach at Auburn in 1961 and served as an assistant coach at Florida for four seasons from 1964-1967. After one season as defensive coordinator at Arkansas in 1970 he was hired by his alma mater to take over as head coach.

In his first year as the head man at Ole Miss, Kinard led the Rebels to a 10-2 record and a Peach Bowl victory. The Rebels ended that season ranked No. 15 in the final Associated Press poll. Ole Miss dropped to 5-5 in Kinard’s second season in 1972, and the Rebels opened the 1973 season with a 1-2 record before Kinard was replaced by the legendary Johnny Vaught for the final eight games of the season. He would go on to coach one season at Gardner-Webb, and retired with a career record of 20-14-1.