Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze speaks at Albany First Baptist Church

ALBANY — The path that Hugh Freeze took to a big-time college job wasn’t the most conventional.

His patience and desire may have been tasted early in his career, but the Ole Miss coach never lost faith in the plan God had for him.

“I need wisdom to accomplish my gift,” Freeze said. “I can’t do it alone. I need God’s wisdom and I need God to know that I am doing what you want me to do.”

The coach was in town speaking at Albany First Baptist Church for a Fellowship of Christian Athletes fundraiser banquet.

Earlier in the day, Freeze and former Ole Miss tight end Wesley Walls beat 12 other teams in the Chick-Fil-A Challenge golf tournament which was held at Reynolds Plantation.

According to a statement released by Ole Miss after the coach was named the Grant Teaff Coach of the Year by the FCA, Freeze has been involved with the organization during his time with the Rebels and also in previous head coaching stops at Arkansas State and Lambuth University.

Freeze was hired by Ole Miss in 2011 and has helped the Rebels become one of the best teams in the SEC. He is the first coach in the school history to guide the Rebels to a bowl game in each of his first three seasons. The Rebels are 34-18 in Freeze’s four years as the head coach.

It has been a whirlwind week for Freeze. Thursday night after being drafted by the Miami Dolphins with the 13th pick in the NFL Draft, former Ole Miss offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil admitted to taking a payment from an Ole Miss coach.

The university was already in hot water with the NCAA after Tunsil was suspended seven games during the 2015 season for accepting impermissible benefits.

Freeze did not address the issues directly, but made mention of them.

“Everyday on my way to the office, I think about everything I am going through,” he said. “Some days you go through a lot more than the others. I have had a few of them lately when you just get hit right in the gut with a punch from right field.”

Despite the ups and downs of the week, Freeze said he saw God’s work in an unexpected place. In the first round of the Chick-Fil-A golf tournament this week he was paired with a father and son, who had just lost a son and brother.

“Right before the round, the golf pro comes up to me and says ‘I don’t know you coach, but I felt I had to pair y’all,’ ” Freeze said. “I’m telling you we had the sweetest time. We prayed down on the seventh fairway. I’m telling you, God just moved me.”