As reported last week, the Ole Miss Rebels have added two new pieces to their offensive coaching staff, officially announcing the hires on Thursday afternoon.
George McDonald (wide receivers/passing game coordinator) and Joe Cox (tight ends) are the newest additions in Oxford after the departure of Derrick Nix (Auburn) and John David Baker (East Carolina) this offseason.
They join what is expected to be an electric passing attack for the Rebels in 2024 led by quarterback Jaxson Dart and wide receivers Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins and others.
"We are continuing to elevate our coaching staff to a championship caliber with the addition of Coach McDonald and Coach Cox to our staff," Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin said in a school-released statement. "Both coaches have been a part of innovative and productive offenses in their careers, and they have proven their ability to recruit and develop talented players at an elite level."
McDonald comes to Ole Miss by way of the Illinois Fighting Illini where he also played wide receiver during his collegiate career from 1995-98. He just completed his fourth season as the team's wide receivers coach and assistant head coach.
The coaching veteran helped the Illinois offense (led by former Ole Miss QB Luke Altmyer) rank as one of the best in the Big Ten in 2023, as the Illini finished in the top five in the conference in passing (3rd), total yards (t-4th), and scoring (5th) and led the Big Ten West in all three categories.
Cox's last stop was in the same role with the Alabama Crimson Tide, but his playing days were spent as a quarterback with the Georgia Bulldogs. He spent the last two seasons on Nick Saban's staff at Alabama and was the tight ends coach for the Charlotte 49ers in 2021. From 2016-19, Cox coached tight ends for the Colorado State Rams.
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