Nutt Could Be Rebel With A Cause

FAYETTEVILLE — Houston Nutt is no longer Arkansas’ football coach.

But the 50-year-old said his resignation after 10 years with the Razorbacks doesn’t mean his coaching career is finished.

“I still feel like I have some coaching left in me,” Nutt said.

Where and when remains unclear, but there is no shortage of possibilities for Nutt this morning. Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, Baylor and SMU are among 11 schools searching for coaches.

Two destinations in particular could pique his interest.

Ole Miss fired coach Ed Orgeron on Saturday, one day after wrapping up a 3-9 season. It was the third straight losing season for Orgeron, who was hired to replace David Cutcliffe in 2005.

Georgia Tech fired coach Chan Gailey on Monday after the Yellow Jackets wrapped up a 7-5 regular season with a loss to in-state rival Georgia. Gailey never had a losing season at Georgia Tech in his six-year tenure, but didn’t meet the school’s expectations.

“There’s not been any negotiations right now or any talk of that,” Nutt said of other jobs. “We’ve had too much on our plate today. Any of those discussions will go through Jimmy Sexton.”

Sexton, Nutt’s agent, did not answer several calls to his cell phone on Monday. On Sunday, Sexton said he could not discuss whether any schools had contacted him to express interest in hiring Nutt for their job openings.

A source close to Nutt said the coach has been in negotiations with Ole Miss this week. The Memphis Commercial Appeal also reported that Nutt is nearing an agreement with the Rebels.

Nutt may have declined to comment on his next stop during the press conference, but when asked afterward if he would be striking a deal with Ole Miss said, “I don’t know.”

Nutt could be considered a catch for another program after compiling a 75-48 record with the Razorbacks.

He led Arkansas to two SEC Western Division championships in his tenure. He also was named SEC Coach of the Year last December after leading the Razorbacks to the title game.

And Nutt is coming off the biggest win of his career after leading Arkansas to a 50-48, three-overtime win at then-No. 1 LSU.

“Houston is a great teacher and he’s a great motivator,” athletic director Frank Broyles said. “That’s all coaching is, teaching and motivating.

“He was the best at it of anybody I’ve known. The most consistent of anybody I’ve known in the coaching profession. I would trust him to get a team ready to play.”