Smartest College Football Coach Firings of the Past 10 Years

Mississippi coach Houston Nutt reacts in the second half of a 41-23 loss to Auburn in their NCAA college football game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Houston Nutt – Ole Miss Rebels, 2011

Record With School: 24-26
Replaced by: Hugh Freeze

Houston Nutt came to Ole Miss to replace Ed Orgeron (he seems to hover around these situations, doesn’t he?) and had left Arkansas as the second all-time winningest coach in school history. The Rebels were primed to become relevant in the SEC again.

At least that was the plan.

For two straight seasons, the Rebels finished 9-4 and came away with Cotton Bowl Classic wins, finishing second and third in the SEC West, respectively.

That kind of record and success would generally be welcomed at most schools, including Ole Miss, which is why there was no talk of replacing Nutt when he entered his third season in Oxford, but then the bottom fell out.

In 2010 the Rebels finished with a 4-8 record, winning only one conference game, and then worsened that by even more the following season, going 2-10 and winless in the SEC. Cap those numbers with three straight losses to rival Mississippi State, and that was all she wrote for Mr. Nutt.

Next: Chan Gailey