Rebels extend Davis through 2025
OXFORD — One week before the start of the 2021-22 season, men's basketball coach Kermit Davis and Ole Miss agreed to a contract extension to keep the 2019 SEC Coach of the Year in Oxford through 2025. Per Mississippi law, a public official's contract cannot last longer than four years, so Ole Miss has elected to roll Davis' contract over one additional year to its maximum length as it did in 2019 as well.
"Starting with his first season when he was SEC Coach of the Year, coach Davis has increased the expectations of Ole Miss Basketball," Ole Miss athletics director Keith Carter said in a school release Tuesday. "He strives for excellence is all areas throughout his program, and his players and coaching staff are great representatives of Ole Miss on and off the court. Recruiting has never been better as he has signed some of the top prospects in school history. We're excited to see the team continue to rise under his guidance, competing for SEC championships and making runs in the NCAA Tournament."
No contract details were released. A USA TODAY Sports database of coach salaries published in March listed Davis earning $2,750,125 per season.
Davis led Ole Miss to a 16-12 record and a No. 1 seed in the NIT in 2020-21. The Rebels lost in the first round of the NIT. Across three seasons, Davis' teams have gone 51-42 including a 26-28 SEC record and an 0-2 record in the postseason, counting the Rebels' Round of 64 loss in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
Ole Miss opens the season on Nov. 9 in Oxford against University of New Orleans. Ole Miss has a preseason exhibition on Friday against Trevecca.
"Every morning I get up, I am so honored to be the basketball coach at Ole Miss," Davis said. "Betty and I love everything connected to this great university and community. I'm very proud of what we are building here on and off the court, and I am extremely excited about this year's team."