In 1970, Kinard's older brother, a former Ole Miss and NFL star, Frank "Bruiser" Kinard, became the athletic director at Ole Miss. He hired the younger Kinard to be the new Ole Miss Rebels football coach. One of main reasons that Billy Kinard was brought in by his brother, after Vaughts "heart attack", was to integrate the football team. Johnny Vaught had been adamant that he would not integrate. After the third contest of the 1973 season, Johnny Vaught replaced Kinard, returning for his second stint as Ole Miss' athletic director and head football coach. Now, Johnny Vaught could coach again and not be "responsible " for the integration of the football team.[3]
123Kinard was fired after the first three games of the 1973 season, before the start of conference play. Johnny Vaught replaced Kinard as head coach and led Ole Miss to a record of 5–3 over the final eight games of the season. The Rebels finished 6–5 overall and 4–3 in Southeastern Conference play, placing third.
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