Hugh Freeze Named FCA Coach Of The Year

INDIANAPOLIS (WCBI Sports/Ole Miss Athletics) – Ole Miss head football coach Hugh Freeze has been named Grant Teaff Coach of the Year by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was presented the award at an FCA event at the American Football Coaches Association convention in Indianapolis on Monday.

Freeze led Ole Miss to an 8-5 overall record in 2013, concluding the season with a 25-17 victory over Georgia Tech in the Music City Bowl in Nashville. He became just the second coach in school history to lead the Rebels to back-to-back bowl wins in his first two seasons at the helm. Ole Miss beat Pittsburgh 38-17 in the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham in his first season.

“I’m totally humbled to receive the Coach Grant Teaff Coach of the Year award at the AFCA convention,” Freeze said. “I share this with our great staff and kids.”

Along with its bowl win, Ole Miss’ 2013 season highlights included victories at Vanderbilt and Texas and a home win over No. 6 LSU. The Rebels’ high-speed offense set records for the most total yards (6,153), first downs (317), plays (1,018), pass attempts (490) and pass completions (310) in a season in school history.

Prior to the 2013 season, Freeze and his staff were lauded for landing a recruiting class that was ranked among the top five in the nation, according to ESPN. That recruiting class accounted for four Freshman All-Americans, two All-SEC picks and the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2013.

Freeze has been heavily involved with FCA during his years as a head coach at Ole Miss, Arkansas State and Lambuth, and as an assistant at Ole Miss and Arkansas State. He is featured in the cover story of the current FCA Magazine, and last year spoke at FCA’s President’s Weekend.

Named in honor of former Baylor coach, AFCA executive director and member of the FCA Board of Trustees Grant Teaff, the Coach of the Year Award presented by FCA recognizes a football coach who exemplifies Christian principles and who is involved in FCA. The award is also based on the success and performance of the coach’s team that season. Previous winners include Bobby Bowden, Mark Richt, Tommy Bowden, Sylvester Croom and former Ole Miss coaches Mike MacIntyre, Tommy Tuberville and Houston Nutt.

On Saturday, Feb. 22, coach legend Bobby Bowden and Freeze will be the featured speakers for a breakfast sponsored by the Ole Miss FCA chapter. The breakfast will be held at the Manning Center (formerly known as the Indoor Practice Facility) from 8:30-10:15 a.m. Click here to register for tickets and table sponsorships. All proceeds will go directly to support the Ole Miss FCA chapter.