Ole Miss' Billy Kinard Dies at 84

Former Ole Miss coach Billy Kinard coaches from the sideline. Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics.

Former Ole Miss head football coach Billy Kinard, 84, passed away Saturday, June 30 at his home in Fort Payne, Alabama. Kinard took over the football program following legendary coach John Vaught.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 3, at Grace Presbyterian Church, located at 5760 Gault Avenue in Fort Payne. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, July 3 at the church from 12-2 p.m.  
Kinard is survived by his wife of 62 years, Kay H. Kinard; son Billy Kinard, Jr., daughter Kathy Kinard, and five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Kinard became the first alumnus of the university to take over for Vaught. He played defensive back and halfback (1952-1955) under Vaught, who led the Rebels for 24 years but retired following a heart attack he suffered in 1970.
During Kinard’s first season at the helm, he led his alma mater to a 10-2 record in 1971, the finest finish for the Rebels since 1963. The season included a 41-18 victory over Georgia Tech in the Peach Bowl.
Following a 5-5 mark in 1972 and a 1-2 start in 1973, Vaught came out of retirement to replace Kinard for the remainder of the season and to also become the Ole Miss athletics director. After the 1973 campaign, Vaught once again retired but remained on as athletics director.
Kinard excelled on the diamond and the gridiron while on campus. He earned All-SEC honors in 1956 when coach Tom Swayze’s team won the SEC Western Division and NCAA District III titles before ending third in the College World Series.
Kinard was selected in the second round (25th overall pick) of the 1956 National Football League and drafted by the Cleveland Browns. He played his rookie season with the Browns then two years (1957-58) with the Green Bay Packers before ending his professional career in 1960 with the Buffalo Bills. Between his time with Green Bay and Buffalo, Kinard coached at Mainland High School in Florida in 1959.