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SECCountry.com: Ole Miss Closing in on Hiring MTSU's Coach Kermit Davis
Kermit Davis head coach of Middle Tennessee. Photo courtesy of the GSA Report
This story was originally published on SECCountry.com.
Kermit Davis may not have made the NCAA Tournament, but he led Middle Tennessee State to a strong season. Now, he might be on the move.
According to Jim Dunaway of WJOX 94.5 FM in Birmingham, Ala., Ole Miss is “95 percent done” with hiring Davis as its next coach. Andy Kennedy resigned as Rebels coach last month.
During an appearance on ESPN 102.5 The Game on Monday, Davis did not comment on the report, stating that he’s “working hard” at Middle Tennessee State, according to Brad Logan of Gridiron Now.
Davis has been the coach at Middle Tennessee State since 2002. Over that time, he has led the Blue Raiders to a 339-189 mark, including going 185-83 in conference play (Sun Belt Conference from 2002-03 to 2012-13, Conference USA from 2013-14 to 2017-18).
Davis led Middle Tennessee State to the NCAA Tournament in 2015-16 and 2016-17. The Blue Raiders won their opening matchup both times, before being eliminated in the Round of 32.
This season, Davis led Middle Tennessee State to a 24-7 record, including a 16-2 mark in Conference USA play. However, that was not enough for an NCAA Tournament berth. The Blue Raiders host Vermont in the first round of the NIT on Tuesday.
Prior to his time at Middle Tennessee State, Davis was an assistant coach at LSU from 1997-2002. He also had one-season stints as the coach at Idaho (1996-97) and Texas A&M (1990-91). He was also the coach at Idaho from 1988-90.
Over his time at the three schools Davis has served as coach, he has amassed a 393-234 career record.
While Davis is a Mississippi native, there is one thing that Ole Miss fans would have to overlook — Davis played as a guard at Mississippi State for two seasons from 1980-82.
Kennedy stepped down as Ole Miss coach on Feb. 19 after leading the Rebels for 12 seasons. Tony Madlock served as interim coach following Kennedy’s resignation.
Ole Miss finished last in the SEC this season, going 12-20 and 5-13 in conference play. The Rebels have missed the NCAA Tournament in three consecutive seasons, last making an appearance in 2015.
| Sat, Aug 31 |  | vs Furman | W, 76-0 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | vs Middle Tennessee | W, 52-3 |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | @ Wake Forest | W, 40-6 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | vs Georgia Southern | W, 52-13 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Kentucky | L, 20-17 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | @ South Carolina | W, 27-3 |
| Sat, Oct 12 |  | vs LSU | L, 29-26 (2 OT) |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | vs Oklahoma | W, 26-14 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | @ Arkansas | W, 63-35 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Georgia | W, 28-10 |
| Sat, Nov 23 |  | @ Florida | L, 24-17 |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | vs Mississippi State | W, 26-14 |
| Thu, Jan 2 |  | vs Duke (Gator Bowl) | W, 52-20 |
| Mon, Nov 4 |  | vs Long Island University | W, 90-60 |
| Fri, Nov 8 |  | vs Grambling | W, 66-64 |
| Tue, Nov 12 |  | vs South Alabama | W, 64-54 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Colorado State | W, 84-69 |
| Thu, Nov 21 |  | vs Oral Roberts | L, 100-68 |
| Thu, Nov 28 |  | vs BYU | W, 96-85 OT |
| Fri, Nov 29 |  | vs 13 Purdue | L, 80-78 |
| Tue, Dec 3 |  | @ Louisville | W, 86-63 |
| Sat, Dec 7 |  | vs Lindenwood | W, 86-53 |
| Sat, Dec 14 |  | vs Southern Miss | W, 77-46 |
| Tue, Dec 17 |  | vs Southern | W, 74-61 |
| Sat, Dec 21 |  | vs Queens University | W, 80-62 |
| Sat, Dec 28 |  | @ Memphis | L, 87-70 |
| Sat, Jan 4 |  | vs Georgia | 11:00 AM SECN |
| Wed, Jan 8 |  | @ 23 Arkansas | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Jan 11 |  | vs LSU | 5:00 PM SECN |
| Tue, Jan 14 |  | @ 5 Alabama | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Jan 18 |  | @ 17 Mississippi State | 5:00 PM TBA |
| Wed, Jan 22 |  | vs 13 Texas A&M | 8:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Jan 25 |  | @ Missouri | 5:00 PM SECN |
| Wed, Jan 29 |  | vs Texas | 8:00 PM ESPN2 |
| Sat, Feb 1 |  | vs 2 Auburn | 3:00 PM TBA |
| Tue, Feb 4 |  | vs 10 Kentucky | 6:00 PM ESPN |
| Sat, Feb 8 | | @ LSU | 7:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 12 |  | @ South Carolina | 6:00 PM SECN |
| Sat, Feb 15 | | vs 17 Mississippi State | 5:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Feb 22 |  | @ Vanderbilt | 2:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 26 | | @ 2 Auburn | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 1 |  | vs 12 Oklahoma | 1:00 PM TBA |
| Wed, Mar 5 |  | vs 1 Tennessee | 8:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 8 |  | @ 6 Florida | 5:00 PM SECN |