USM: Head football coach Will Hall dismissed; Reed Stringer to take interim reins

Posted by author October 20, 2024 Football

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From the University of Southern Mississippi Sports Information

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) -The University of Southern Mississippi announced Sunday evening that football coach Will Hall had been fired.

USM Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain announced that the university “will be moving in a new direction with its football program.”

“We are grateful to Will and his family for their dedication to Southern Miss over the past four years,” McClain said. “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.”

Hall, who arrived at USM as a first-time head coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision, was in his fourth season at the helm.

In three seasons-plus, Hall posted a 14-30 record, including 2022′s high-water mark of a 6-6 regular season and a postseason victory over Rice University in the Lending Tree Bowl.

In the 19 games since logging that winning season, USM has gone 4-15.

In two-plus seasons facing Sun Belt Conference competition, USM has gone 6-13, including an 0-3 mark this season. While working within a small sample size USM never has posted a winning season in the Sun Belt Belt, boasting of a 4-4 mark as its best.

USM had slipped to 1-6 Saturday, absorbing a fifth, consecutive loss. USM’s only victory this season had come against Southeastern Louisiana University, which competes in the Football Championship Subdivision.

McClain said Assistant Head Coach/General Manager Reed Stringer will serve as the Golden Eagles’ interim head coach for the remainder of the 2024 season.

McClain outlined the path ahead for USM football.

“Our immediate focus is two-fold,” McClain said. “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.”

McClain said Southern Miss immediately would commence its search for Hall’s long-term replacement.

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