Frank Wilson is heading back to familiar territory - and he's doing it with a new title and a fresh opportunity.
With LSU’s season officially in the books after a narrow 38-35 loss to Houston in the Texas Bowl, Wilson’s brief stint as interim head coach has come to an end. Now, he’s on the move to Oxford, where he’s been named Ole Miss’ Senior Associate Head Coach and Running Backs Coach.
This isn’t Wilson’s first ride through Oxford. From 2005 to 2007, he coached running backs and special teams under Ed Orgeron.
Nearly two decades later, he returns to a program that’s undergone its own transformation - and reunites with a familiar face in Pete Golding, the Rebels’ new head coach. Golding and Wilson worked together at UTSA in 2016 and 2017, when Golding served as Wilson’s defensive coordinator.
That connection could be key as Ole Miss looks to build out a new era under Golding’s leadership.
Wilson’s coaching résumé is both deep and rooted in the SEC. He made his name at LSU from 2010 to 2015 as the Tigers’ associate head coach, running backs coach, and recruiting coordinator - a stretch that saw LSU consistently bring in top-tier talent and produce NFL-caliber backs. After that, he took on head coaching roles at UTSA and McNeese State before returning to Baton Rouge in a similar role under Brian Kelly.
When Kelly was dismissed on October 26 during his fourth season at the helm, Wilson was tapped to lead the Tigers through the remainder of the season. It was a short but steadying tenure, culminating in the Texas Bowl appearance.
Now, with Lane Kiffin having taken over the LSU job, Wilson’s move to Ole Miss brings a bit of symmetry to the offseason carousel. He departs Baton Rouge for a program that’s looking to reload - and with his recruiting chops, player development track record, and strong ties to the region, Wilson figures to be a key piece in Oxford’s next chapter.
There’s a lot of familiarity here - not just with the school and the staff, but with the SEC grind. Wilson knows what it takes to compete in this conference, and he’s stepping into a role where he can make an immediate impact.
For Ole Miss, it’s a savvy hire. For Wilson, it’s a homecoming with purpose.