Ole Miss Men’s Golf & Softball Head Coaches Will Not Return

May 8, 2014

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI/Ole Miss Athletics) – After three seasons as the head coach of the Ole Miss softball program, Windy Thees is being relieved of her duties, as announced Thursday by Director of Athletics Ross Bjork. A national search to find Thees’ replacement will begin immediately.

“Although three years is a short window for most athletic programs, we have decided that an immediate change in leadership is needed for Ole Miss Softball,” said Bjork. “In the ultra-competitive SEC, our program did not show the amount of progress we had hoped for during Coach Thees’ tenure. We want to thank Windy for her efforts over the past three seasons.”

The Rebels posted a 22-31 mark this season, including a 3-21 record in Southeastern Conference play. In her time at Ole Miss, Thees accumulated a 69-94 record and was 13-63 in SEC action.

Thees came to Ole Miss from Memphis, where she was the head coach for the program’s first six seasons. The Mesa, Ariz., native has been a head coach for 14 years, including nine at the Division I level, and boasts a 404-337 career record.

Thees wasn’t the only coaching casualty on Thursday in Oxford. Ole Miss will also begin the search for a new men’s golf head coach.

Ernest Ross will not return as the Rebels’ head coach, as announced by Director of Athletics Ross Bjork Thursday.

In 17 seasons at Ole Miss over two tenures, Ross led the Rebels to seven NCAA Tournament appearances, although the last berth came in 2010. Ross’ Rebels posted a fourth-place NCAA finish in 1985 and captured the 1984 SEC Championship and 27 regular-season tournament titles. He also earned two SEC Coach of the Year awards in 1982 and 1984.

“Ernest has provided steady and successful leadership of our golf program for a long time, and we appreciate both of his stints as our head coach,” Bjork said. “As a member of our M-Club Hall of Fame, Ernest has made tremendous contributions to our program, and we wish him and his family the best as they move forward.”

Ross played for the Rebels from 1971-73 and later became the head coach from 1979 until 1987. He returned to his alma mater in 2004 after spending 16 years as the head professional at the Country Club of Jackson.