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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Derrick Nix Joins Nutt's Ole Miss Staff
1/2/2008 | Football
Nix is reunited with his brother, Tyrone, whom Nutt hired as defensive coordinator on Dec. 11. Derrick Nix spent 2007 in the NFL as offensive assistant and quality control coach for Bobby Petrino’s Atlanta Falcons.
“Derrick Nix is a quality coach who knows the state of
Nix, one of the best-known players to ever wear a Golden Eagle uniform, began his four-year stint on the USM sidelines as a defensive graduate assistant in 2003. The following year, Nix was promoted to tight ends coach before being appointed to the running backs coaching position, where he spent two years.
In 2006 under Nix's direction, the Southern Miss running backs ran for 2,378 yards and scored 23 touchdowns, the first time the Golden Eagles ran for over 2,000 yards since 1987. True freshman Damion Fletcher, who earned first-team All-Conference USA honors and freshman All-American honors, ran for 1,388 yards and scored 11 touchdowns, the second most yards in a season in school history.
In 2005, Nix got career-best years from youthful players Larry Thomas and Cody
A three-time all-conference selection, Nix was a record-setting running back throughout his Southern Miss playing days and was named to the USM "Team of the Century.” He was the first Golden Eagle ever to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his freshman and sophomore campaigns and the only Southern Miss and C-USA player ever to rush for 1,000 yards or more in three seasons.
Nix's career achievements at Southern Miss also included being the C-USA Freshman of the Year and a first team Freshman All-America in 1998.
A sprained ankle, along with the kidney problem, forced Nix to sit out a year and a half, before returning for a successful senior season. He was invited to participate in the 2003 Senior Bowl.
A native of
It was also announced Wednesday that Louis Campbell will not be a part of Nutt’s first Ole Miss coaching staff.
