Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss Agree to New Contract: Latest Details, Reaction, Analysis

Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze is one of the highest paid coaches in college football, after agreeing to a four-year contract extension with the Rebels. 

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Friday, Dec. 12

Freeze Details Revealed

Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee reported that the official details of Freeze's extension were revealed:

Tuesday, Dec. 2

Freeze, Ole Miss Agree to Extension

An agreement is in place between Ole Miss and head football coach Hugh Freeze on a four-year contract extension worth $4 million per season plus an increase in pay for assistant coaches.

Both sides sent out messages early Tuesday confirming the deal:

Hugh Kellenberger of The Clarion-Ledger provided the details of the new contract, including the $4 million annual salary. He notes the agreement is only verbal in nature at this point, but there are no remaining roadblocks:

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Negotiations have been ongoing for several weeks, following a routine that has felt familiar: in the midst of a successful season Ole Miss athletics director Ross Bjork takes a pro-active approach by meeting with Freeze and his agent, Jimmy Sexton, about a new deal. This is the third time in as many seasons that Freeze's salary has grown.

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The announcement comes amid speculated interest from Florida. Pat Dooley of Gatorsports.com notes the opening was a factor in talks but says there was never a meeting about the Gators job:

Ole Miss has made steady progress since Freeze arrived ahead of the 2012 campaign. He's posted a 24-14 record in his first three seasons, including a pair of bowl wins. The Rebels went a combined 6-18 in the two years before he arrived.

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They were also in contention for the first College Football Playoff before a late string of losses. Despite a 2-3 finish to the campaign, Ole Miss clearly has seen enough positive strides to lock its head coach in place before the offseason carousel starts spinning.

With any concerns about losing Freeze now in the rearview mirror, the Rebels will turn their focus to bowl season. More information about their destination and opponent will likely come over the weekend.