When LSU made the decision to part ways with Brian Kelly back in late October, it was Frank Wilson who stepped up to guide the Tigers through the transition. The respected running backs coach was handed the interim head coaching reins, a move that spoke volumes about how much trust the program had in him. And while Lane Kiffin has since taken over as the new head coach in Baton Rouge, Wilson’s journey is taking a different turn-one that brings him back to familiar territory.
Wilson is set to coach LSU through its Texas Bowl matchup against the Cougars, but after that, all signs point to a return to Oxford, Mississippi. Reports out of both LSU and Ole Miss suggest that Wilson is expected to join Pete Golding’s staff as the Rebels’ new running backs coach.
For Wilson, it’s a homecoming of sorts. He previously served on the Ole Miss staff from 2005 to 2007, handling both running backs and special teams. Nearly two decades later, he’s coming back with a much deeper résumé and an even stronger reputation.
This move may not sting too much for LSU. With a new regime in place under Kiffin, Wilson’s long-term role with the Tigers was always a bit of a question mark. But make no mistake-this is a big-time win for Ole Miss.
Wilson is widely regarded as one of the top assistant coaches and recruiters in the college game. His track record speaks for itself.
During his time at LSU and elsewhere, he’s helped develop a string of standout running backs, including Leonard Fournette, Alfred Blue, Spencer Ware, and Jeremy Hill. That’s not just a list of productive backs-that’s a list of guys who made serious noise at both the college and NFL levels.
Beyond his work as a position coach, Wilson also brings head coaching experience to the table. He led UTSA from 2016 to 2019, helping elevate the Roadrunners’ profile in the Group of Five landscape. He followed that up with a stint as head coach at McNeese State in 2020 and 2021, further sharpening his leadership chops.
There aren’t many positional coaches in the college ranks with Wilson’s combination of recruiting prowess, player development skills, and leadership experience. For Pete Golding and Ole Miss, this is about more than just adding a talented coach-it’s about injecting the program with a proven difference-maker who knows how to connect with players and elevate a position group.
Frank Wilson returning to Oxford might not make national headlines, but it’s the kind of move that can quietly reshape a team’s identity. For Ole Miss, it’s a calculated, high-upside hire that could pay dividends for years to come.