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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Cutcliffe Recommends Latina as Assistant
6/21/1999 | Football
December 8, 1998
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss head coach David Cutcliffe has recommended the hiring of John Latina to the Rebel football staff. The recommendation, made on Tuesday, is pending approval of the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning.
Latina will join Art Kaufman, Marion Hobby, Kurt Roper and Jerry Colquitt as members of the Rebel football coaching staff. Cutcliffe was hired as the Ole Miss head football coach on Dec. 2.
"I am excited to have John come to Ole Miss and join our staff," said Cutcliffe. "Like our other coaches on staff, John is a quality coach and an outstanding individual, and will make the Ole Miss family proud."
Latina comes to Ole Miss from Clemson, where he had served as an assistant coach since 1994. He joined the Clemson staff when Tommy West was hired prior to the 1993 Peach Bowl. During his five-year tenure on the Tigers' staff, Latina worked with the offensive line and running game. He coached Clemson in four bowls in the 1993 Peach Bowl, 1996 Gator Bowl, 1996 Peach Bowl and 1998 Peach Bowl. Prior to the 1997 season, Latina's group of offensive linemen were ranked third best in the nation by The Sporting News, and the group helped the Tigers establish team records in six offensive categories in 1997. From 1995-97, Latina coached two All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) first or second team selections, and the Tigers were one of the top two rushing teams in the ACC all three years.
A 1979 graduate of Virginia Tech, Latina lettered all four years (1975-78) as an offensive lineman for the Hokies, and he began his coaching career at his alma mater following graduation in 1979. Latina coached for three seasons (1979-81) at Virginia Tech, and helped lead the Hokies to the 1981 Peach Bowl. After a two-year stint at Pittsburgh (1982-83) where he coached tight ends, Latina moved to Temple, where he coached the offensive line from 1983-88. During his time at Temple, Latina coached the offensive line that blocked for All-America first teamer Paul Palmer, who led the nation in rushing in 1986.
In 1989, Latina joined the Kansas State staff as the offensive line coach and running game coordinator. During his five seasons (1989-93), Latina's offensive line helped the Wildcats set several team records. The 1992 Kansas State team played in the Copper Bowl, just the second bowl appearance in Wildcat football history.
The Rebels finished the 1998 regular season with a 6-5 record. Ole Miss will meet Texas Tech (7-4) in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., on Dec. 31. The game, which will be televised by ESPN, is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. (CT) start.