Tyrone Nix Tyrone Nix ( born September 30 , 1972 ) is the defensive coordinator for the Middle Tennessee football team and the former associate head coach and defensive coordinator for Ole Miss Rebels football , and the former Defensive Coordinator for the South Carolina Gamecocks and Southern Miss Golden Eagles . He is the brother of Derrick Nix , a former Southern Miss star and former Southern Miss assistant coach as well as a former Atlanta Falcons assistant coach in the NFL . Playing career . Nix is a former starting linebacker . Following high school at Etowah High School in Attalla , Alabama , he went to the University of Southern Mississippi and played linebacker from 1990 through 1993 . He was named Golden Eagle team captain in 1993 . As a freshman , Nix was one of three freshmen to play in the 1990 All - American Bowl . He was also named to the All - South team and National Independent team as both a junior and a senior . In the year 1991 , Nix became a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity , Inc . , through the Theta Eta Chapter at the University of Southern Mississippi . Coaching career . University of Southern Mississippi ( 2001 - 04 ) . In 2001 , Nix became the defensive coordinator at Southern Miss at the age of 29 , making him the youngest coordinator in Division I - A . By 2003 he was a finalist for the Broyles Award , which recognizes the nation ’ s top assistant coaches . His impact as a defensive coordinator was immediately felt as he led the 2001 Golden Eagle defense , which had lost 7 starters from the previous season , to rankings of 8th in the nation in scoring defense and 11th in the nation in total defense . In his first three years as defensive coordinator at USM , Coach Nix ’ s defenses stayed in the top 15 nationally in scoring defense . University of South Carolina ( 2005 - 07 ) . Coach Nix began his tenure at South Carolina in 2005 as co - defensive coordinator , sharing the responsibility with his long - time colleague John Thompson . Near the end of that season , impressed by Coach Nix ’ s coaching prowess , Head Coach Steve Spurrier promoted him to sole defensive coordinator and assistant head coach . Prior to his promotion , the Gamecocks were giving up over 27 points per game . After the promotion , and under Coach Nix ’ s sole guidance , the USC defense held opponents to just 17 points per game . University of Mississippi ( 2008 - 11 ) . On December 11 , 2007 , Nix accepted the job as defensive coordinator at the University of Mississippi ( Ole Miss ) , to serve under new Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt . During the 2008 season , Nix had Ole Miss defense ranked among the national leaders in points per game ( 17 . 8 , 14th in FBS , ) yards per game ( 204 . 8 , 16th in FBS , ) and ranked 5th nationally in total rushing yards ( 1020 . ) The 2008 defense included firth team All - American DT Peria Jerry and third team DE Greg Hardy . The season was capped off with a 47 - 34 win over Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl and a 8 - 4 record . Following the 2009 season , Houston Nutt promoted Nix to the role of assistant head coach after being nominated for the Frank Broyles Award . Upon the hiring of Hugh Freeze as head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels on December 6 , 2011 , after Nutt was fired , Nix was dismissed as well . Middle Tennessee ( 2012 ) . After interviewing with the Oklahoma Sooners , Nix was named co - defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State on February 22 , 2012 under Rick Stockstill .