Ole Miss offensive coordinator Matt Luke contacted by Samford
By Ethan Levine
Published:
The Samford Bulldogs are in need of a new head coach after former coach Pat Sullivan stepped down at the end of the regular season, and Ole Miss offensive coordinator Matt Luke is reportedly among the candidates being considered for the vacancy.
According to a report by Football Scoop, Luke was contacted by Samford to gauge his interest in the position sometime this week. The report noted the Bulldogs have contacted a handful of other coaches in addition to Luke, and it also stated current Samford defensive coordinator Billy D’Ottavio remains a candidate to fill the position.
Sullivan will reportedly play a role in the decision-making process regarding the next head coach.
Luke has been the offensive coordinator at Ole Miss since 2012, the same year current coach Hugh Freeze arrived in Oxford. He’s had previous stints as the offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Duke University and the University of Tennessee, and his recruiting prowess has helped Ole Miss attract back to back top 20 recruiting classes the last two seasons (according to Rivals).
Luke currently makes Luke is a 2000 Ole Miss graduate, and he began his coaching career as a student assistant coach at Ole Miss in 1999.
UPDATE: According to Ole Miss beat writer Hugh Kellenberger, citing a source, Luke has no interesting in being considered for the Samford job.
Ole Miss co-OC Matt Luke does not have any interest in the Samford job, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
— Hugh Kellenberger (@KellenbergerGLF) December 4, 2014
A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.
