Ole Miss Football: Know Your Coaches, Derrick Nix, Running Backs
Ole Miss football fans have seen so many new faces around Oxford, OHT figured we needed to highlight a familiar one, coach Derrick Nix.
Coach Derrick Nix has become a mainstay in Oxford and is a staple in the Ole Miss football rushing attack. However, with the added number of new faces in Oxford, we have forgotten a few of the more familiar faces. Coach Derrick Nix is one of those. He has been solid as a recruiter and has in turn solidified his position as running back coach for Ole Miss football.
Derrick Nix is entering his tenth season as a Ole Miss running backs coach. The more recent Rebel rushing attacks have been purely by committee and over-shadowed by a prolific passing attack. However, coach Derrick Nix has produced some very successful Ole Miss running backs.
Where He Came From
Ole Miss Rebels Football
Derrick Nix starred as running back for the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles where he became a graduate assistant in 2003. Although he began as a tight-end coach he soon became running backs coach and was responsible for one of the most prolific running back corps in the USA conference.
In fact, the performance of the 2006 Southern Miss running backs is what drew the attention of Ole Miss. Nix was the driving force behind a running back corp which put up over 2,000 yards.
What Nix Brings
Besides bringing his own ten years of Ole Miss experience into this season, coach Nix brings a highlight reel’s worth of references to Ole Miss football. You can’t say McCluster, Eason, Bolden or Wilkins without knowing they were formed under the watchful eye of a great coach.
Of course, coaching these guys up is just one element of Derrick Nix. He did manage to guide these players and numerous others to play college football at Ole Miss to begin with.
Coach Nix has been a solid force in bringing great high-school running back talent to Oxford on a perennial basis. Coach Nix was also a major factor in the commitment of Jones County Junior College running-back Scott Phillips. Coach Nix is a great recruiter of running back talent without a doubt.
This Season
Coach Derrick Nix is on the verge of a great rushing attack beyond what we have known at Ole Miss. While I realize I keep harping about the super-fast Phil Longo but some of you may not realize what’s in store for this offense. Coach Derrick knows running backs thrive in the Longo system and I believe Jordan Wilkins goes over the 1K mark this season in this offense. I stand behind that. Come on man, help me out Jordan!
Time tells all and in coach Derrick Nix we have longevity at running back coach. In the SEC it means something to be able to maintain stability as a position coach and Derrick Nix brings it. Coach Nix, thank you for being a part of the Ole Miss family and good luck to you and the Ole Miss running backs this season. Hotty Toddy!