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Ole Miss parts ways with HC Matt Luke

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Ole Miss announced Sunday that the school is parting ways with head coach Matt Luke after he posted a 15-21 record in three seasons with the Rebels.

"After evaluating the overall trajectory of our football program, we did not see enough momentum on the field and determined a change is necessary in order for our student-athletes to compete at the highest level," athletic director Keith Carter said in a statement. "While improvements were evident in certain aspects of the program, we are judged ultimately by our record, and, unfortunately, we did not meet the standard of success we expect from our program."

Luke took over as head coach on an interim basis in 2017 after Hugh Freeze resigned, leading Ole Miss to a 6-6 record in his first year. The school's administration deemed that result good enough, and it rewarded the Mississippi native with a three-year deal to become the program's full-time head coach.

Ole Miss dropped to 5-7 in Luke's second season, prompting the 43-year-old to bring in veteran coaches Rich Rodriguez and Mike MacIntyre as his coordinators for the 2019 campaign.

While the Rebels showed flashes this year with electric freshman quarterback John Rhys Plumlee leading the way, they finished 4-8, including a dramatic loss in the Egg Bowl vs. Mississippi State to end the schedule.

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