In a seismic shift for the Southern Miss football program, the university announced on Sunday that they have parted ways with head coach Will Hall after four seasons at the helm. The decision comes amid a dismal 1-6 start to the 2024 campaign, extending Hall’s overall record to a disappointing 14-30 during his tenure in Hattiesburg.
A Tenure Marked by Struggle
When Will Hall took over the reins of the Golden Eagles program in 2021, hopes were high that the young coach could restore the team to its former glory. However, despite a promising 7-6 record in his second season, capped off by a victory in the LendingTree Bowl, the program failed to maintain that momentum.
In the two seasons since that brief glimmer of success, Southern Miss has managed just a 4-15 record, including the current 1-6 start that ultimately sealed Hall’s fate. The administration, led by athletic director Jeremy McClain, felt that the results on the field simply did not align with the program’s goals and expectations.
We are grateful to Will and his family for their dedication to Southern Miss over the past four years. Will poured his heart and soul into this program and into shaping these young men. Unfortunately, the results on the field didn’t align with our shared goals and expectations.
Jeremy McClain, Southern Miss Athletic Director
The Financial Fallout
The decision to move on from Hall will not come cheap for Southern Miss. Per the terms of his contract, the university will owe the ousted coach nearly $860,000 in buyout money. It’s a significant sum for a program that has struggled to gain traction in recent years, but one that the administration deemed necessary in order to move the program in a new direction.
An Interim Solution and a National Search
In the wake of Hall’s dismissal, assistant head coach Reed Stringer will take over as the interim head coach for the remainder of the 2024 season. Stringer’s first test will come next week when the Golden Eagles travel to face James Madison.
Looking beyond the current campaign, Southern Miss officials are confident that the head coaching position will attract a strong pool of candidates. With its rich tradition, passionate fan base, and prime location in one of the nation’s most fertile recruiting grounds, the program has all the ingredients necessary to lure a top-tier coach to Hattiesburg.
Our immediate focus is twofold: first, supporting our student-athletes throughout the remainder of the season, and second, conducting a comprehensive national search to identify the next leader for Southern Miss football. This is a proud program with an outstanding history and a premier job in college football. We will find the next leader to usher us into a new era of championship success.
Jeremy McClain, Southern Miss Athletic Director
A Program in Transition
The next head coach will be the fifth to lead the program since 2012, underscoring the instability that has plagued Southern Miss football in recent years. However, with the right hire and a renewed commitment to excellence, the Golden Eagles have the potential to once again soar to the top of the Conference USA standings and beyond.
As the search for a new leader begins, the Southern Miss faithful will watch with bated breath, eager to see who will be tasked with restoring the program to its former glory. With the right coach at the helm, the Golden Eagles may soon find themselves back in the national spotlight, competing for championships and thrilling fans across Mississippi and beyond.
