Vaughn Joins Nutt on Rebel Football Staff

OXFORD, Miss. Ole Miss head football coach Houston Nutt continues to assemble his first Rebel staff and announced Wednesday the addition of a familiar face in Chris Vaughn. The appointment is pending approval of the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning.

Vaughn, who was the first player Nutt recruited as a head coach at Murray State, had served on Nutt’s Arkansas staff the past nine seasons, including four as recruiting coordinator.

On the field, Vaughn’s coaching responsibilities have included the outside linebackers (2000-04), the outside linebackers and strong safeties (2001-03) and all safeties (2005, 2007). He spent the 2006 season as the director of on-campus recruiting.

“I'm excited about the addition of Chris Vaughn to our staff,” Nutt said. “He's an excellent recruiter with great people skills. Most of all, he makes a big difference in the lives of 18 and 19-year olds. Chris will begin working with our staff immediately.”

In 2003, Vaughn guided a unit that helped Arkansas finish fifth in the Southeastern Conference in total defense and fourth in passing defense. The Razorbacks also ranked third in pass efficiency defense.

As outside linebackers coach, Vaughn was instrumental in developing Tony Bua into an All-SEC performer. Bua earned All-SEC honors in 2001, 2002 and 2003, and ended his career as Arkansas’ all-time leading tackler with 408 stops before being drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2004.

In 2001, Vaughn helped Arkansas' defense rank second in the SEC in the red zone by allowing teams to score 68.3 percent of the time, and third in the league and 30th nationally with a plus-five turnover margin. Vaughn also helped coach a 2000 defensive unit which led the conference and was 12th nationally in total defense by allowing just 292.1 yards per game.

The first player with whom Nutt made an in-home visit after his hiring at Murray State in 1994, Vaughn went on to earn four letters as a linebacker at MSU. He played his first three seasons for the Racers under Nutt and was a member of Murray State teams that claimed back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference titles.

Vaughn earned All-OVC honors as a senior in 1997 and earned his bachelor’s degree in advertising from Murray State in 1998.

A native of Tallahassee, Fla., Vaughn is married to the former Marquette Foster and they are the parents of Christopher Matthew Vaughn II, Cienna Marquette and Camryn McNeil.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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