After losing offensive line coach Sam Pittman to Arkansas, Georgia turned to a former SEC head coach to fill the vacancy.

The Bulldogs have hired former Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke to serve as their associate head coach/offensive line coach. Luke was fired at the end of the regular season by the Rebels, who have since hired Lane Kiffin to take over as their head coach.

Luke went 15-21 over three seasons leading Ole Miss. Shortly after the news was announced, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart shared his excitement to have his former SEC rival joining the program.

“We are extremely excited and fortunate to have Matt join our staff,” Smart said in a statement. “He’s a proven football coach who has a wealth of experience on the offensive side of the ball, especially in the offensive line. He has a great reputation among those who have played for him and it’s obvious watching his teams over many years that players love him and play hard for him.”

Over the years, Luke has been an offensive line coach at numerous schools, including Murray State (2000-01), Ole Miss (2002-05, 2012-16), Tennessee (2006-07) and Duke (2008-11).

Although Luke was popular with Ole Miss players the past three seasons, the Rebels were .500 or worse in each of those three campaigns. They also struggled in SEC play, never winning more than three conference games in a season.

Now, Luke joins a Georgia team that is coming off its third straight appearance in the SEC Championship Game. The Bulldogs, who went 11-2 in the regular season, are playing Baylor in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.