Ole Miss fans are invited to enjoy one last hoorah at Tad Smith Coliseum before the arena is demolished.
The university announced that it has issued a request for design services for the site’s demolition, tentatively scheduled for summer 2026. Plans for the site include new surface parking areas while campus officials determine future building needs. The news comes as Ole Miss has experienced significant student growth, shattering enrollment records in the process. This fall alone, Ole Miss welcomed 28,405 students across its seven campuses.
But before the basketball arena, colloquially known as the “Tad Pad,” is no longer standing, Chris Beard’s team will give fans an opportunity to scratch a nostalgic itch. On Friday, Nov. 14, the Rebels will host a special throwback in the Tad Pad, Cal State Bakersfield.
“You think of all the greats who have played in that building, as well as the opposing teams that came in. I just thought it would be cool to kind of get everybody under the same umbrella,” Beard said. “We’ve got a lot of sneaky tradition here in Ole Miss basketball.”
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From 2011 until a little over a month ago, Bakersfield was led by a familiar face to Ole Miss faithful — former Rebel hoops frontman Rod Barnes. Barnes stepped down as the Roadrunners’ head coach in late September, but will be in attendance for the matchup between the two teams he coached. Barnes was an assistant at Ole Miss from 1993-98, before being promoted to head coach in 1998, where he held the post until 2006. The throwback game will be played in his honor, according to Beard.
“Next Friday night, we’ll honor Coach Barnes — one of the best coaches who really ever coached in the SEC,” Beard said. “He had NCAA Tournament teams here. I know he’s super appreciative of coming back. He’s excited, and so are we. All the players and coaches during Coach Barnes’ era here at Ole Miss have been invited back.”
Tad Smith Coliseum first opened its doors in 1966 as Rebel Coliseum, before undergoing a name change in 1972. Ole Miss won five SEC Western titles, back when the conference was split into two divisions, in the venue. Three of these feats were accomplished with Barnes on the sideline. Two occurred while now-Ole Miss Athletics Director Keith Carter was a shining star for the red and blue.
Ole Miss basketball fans also got to witness history in the Tad Pad in 1970, when Coolidge Ball became the first Black student-athlete for any sport at the university. Ball, who passed away in 2023, now has a statue that stands tall between the SJB Pavilion and Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Tad Smith Coliseum served as the venue for both men’s and women’s basketball at Ole Miss until the Pavilion was up and running in January 2016.
Since Beard arrived in Oxford, he has pushed campus officials to hold a special matchup in Tad Smith Coliseum each year. In 2023, Ole Miss defeated Sam Houston State 70-67 in a game that paid tribute to Rob Evans. Last season, the Tad Pad contest was held in honor of Bob Wetlich and resulted in a 64-54 win over South Alabama.
The upcoming battle versus the Roadrunners will tip off at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be aired on SEC Network+, along with participating SuperTalk Mississippi stations. However, Beard is encouraging all who can make the trip to Oxford to do so. The next day, the No. 6 Ole Miss football team will take on Florida at home.
