OLE MISS
Freeze gets big raise
Mississippi Coach Hugh Freeze earned a big raise after leading the program to a nine-victory season and a spot in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Dec. 31.
The school said Friday that it’s finalized a contract with Freeze that will pay a base salary of $4.3 million next season
— a raise of more than a million from his 2014 salary.
Ole Miss Athletic Director Ross Bjork said last week that the school and Freeze had reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, but details were released in a university statement on Friday. The contract runs for four years, which is the longest allowed by Mississippi state law.
The school also said the salary pool for Ole Miss assistant coaches will rise by “at least” 25 percent.
“This continued investment in Ole Miss football, Hugh Freeze and our football staff shows that we want to excel at the highest level in the SEC and college football,” Bjork said in a statement. “I personally look forward to working with Hugh Freeze as we continue to build Ole Miss each and every day. We are grateful that his leadership of our program will be in place for the long term.”
Freeze’s base salary rises $100,000 in each year of the deal, or 50 percent of the annual bonuses earned in the previous season depending on which is greater. His base salary immediately jumps to $5 million if the Rebels make the SEC Championship Game.
The school said Freeze earned a base salary of $3.15 million last season.
WISCONSIN
Alvarez: No offer yet
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez said he hasn’t offered the Badgers’ football coaching job to anyone, including current Pittsburgh coach and apparent front-runner Paul Chryst.
Alvarez said Friday that Wisconsin state law prevents the university from making an offer to anyone before Wednesday, the date given in a job posting that went up after Gary Andersen’s departure this week for Oregon State.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Alvarez met with Chryst in Florida, where Alvarez was attending an Outback Bowl promotion. The newspaper cited an anonymous source. Pittsburgh officials said Chryst was in Florida recruiting earlier in the week.
Alvarez will coach the Badgers in the bowl against Auburn on Jan. 1.
Chryst is a former Badgers assistant, including stints as co-offensive coordinator, tight ends coach and quarterbacks coach. He’s also a former Badgers quarterback. He is 19-19 at Pitt, including 6-6 this season with a game against Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl on Jan. 2.
The Panthers began bowl preparations Friday with a light workout at the end of finals week. Chryst spoke to the team before practice but declined to address reporters. He is in the third season of a five-year deal he signed when Pitt hired him to replace Todd Graham in December 2011.
While Chryst has spoken to Pitt officials about an extension, no agreement has been reached.
OREGON STATE
Andersen introduced
CORVALLIS, Ore. — Gary Andersen said his decision to leave Wisconsin after just two seasons for the job at Oregon State came down to fit.
He was introduced as the Beavers’ head coach Friday, telling the crowd that there’s no doubt in his mind that he’s where he’s supposed to be.
Andersen replaces Mike Riley, who surprisingly left Oregon State last week after 14 seasons in Corvallis. It was equally surprising when Andersen announced that he was leaving Wisconsin. The Badgers have gone 10-3 this season and are headed to the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1 against Auburn. Wisconsin Athletic Director and longtime former coach Barry Alvarez said he will coach the Badgers in their bowl game.
OKLAHOMA STATE
Hill dismissed
Tyreek Hill’s thrilling 92-yard punt return for a touchdown made him the hero of Oklahoma State’s comeback victory over Oklahoma.
Less than a week later, he was in jail after being arrested and charged with punching and choking his pregnant girlfriend. On Friday, he was dismissed from the football and track teams.
According to a report from the Stillwater Police Department, the woman said she and the All-Big 12 player had an argument that escalated into physical violence Thursday night.
The woman said she was eight weeks pregnant with Hill’s child, and was concerned about the fetus because she was in pain after he punched her in the stomach. She said she also was punched in the face, had a busted lip and was choked by Hill, 20.
Hill, a junior, was arrested shortly after 11 p.m. on a charge of domestic abuse by strangulation and he allegedly told officers he was being arrested “for being black and she was white.” Hill spent the night in jail and was charged Friday with domestic assault and battery by strangulation, according to a Payne County Court clerk. Hill did not enter a plea. Bond was set at $15,000, and a court date was set for Jan. 13.
Hill’s big return against Oklahoma tied last Saturday’s game, and the Cowboys went on to win 38-35 in overtime. He finished the regular season with 1,811 all-purpose yards, including 534 rushing, 281 receiving, 256 on punt returns and 740 on punt returns. His 996 combined kick return yards are the second-most in the nation this year, and his 150.9 all-purpose yards per game rank 11th nationally.
AUBURN
Muschamp to lead defense
AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn hired former Florida coach Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator Friday.
A person with knowledge of the move said Muschamp will make $1.6 million a year, making him one of college football’s highest paid assistants. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the school didn’t release terms of the deal. Muschamp coached Florida’s final two regular-season games after being fired Nov. 16.
He held the defensive coordinator job at Auburn and Texas, and the Gators’ biggest struggles came on offense.
Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn fired longtime SEC defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson after the season. The Tigers fell from national title contention with three consecutive SEC losses largely because of a struggling defense.