Johnny Vaught

Johnny Vaught established himself as a coaching legend in the SEC over 24 seasons as head coach of the Ole Miss football program from 1947-1970. He remains the only coach in Ole Miss history to win an SEC championship, winning six conference titles while coaching the Rebels (in 1947, 1954, 1955, 1960, 1962 and 1963). Vaught’s teams won three national championships, all in a four-year span (1959, 1960 and 1962). He led the Rebels to 18 bowl games while serving as head coach, including 14 seasons in a row from 1957-1970. He was a six-time SEC Coach of the Year and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979.

Only two coaches recorded winning records against Vaught during their careers: Paul “Bear” Bryant (7-6-1 against Vaught) and Roberty Neyland (3-2). He was 10-8 in bowl games as coach of the Rebels and his teams finished ranked in the final Associated Press poll 14 times. Vaught returned to Ole Miss in 1973 to coach the final eight games of the season, registering a 5-3 record. His career record as a head coach was 190-61-12.

Vaught also served as athletic director at Ole Miss from 1973-1978. In 1982 Ole Miss revised the name of its stadium from Hemingway Stadium to Vaught-Hemingway stadium in Vaught’s honor. He passed away in 2006 at the age of 96.

Ethan Levine

A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.