Photo Courtesy: Mike Jones

Alcorn State, MS—Alcorn State University President Christopher Brown announced Jay Hopson as the new Head Football Coach at a press conference on campus today.  The hire makes ASU the first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) school to name a non-African American to the position.

Hopson
"The future for Alcorn football is bright and I am excited that Coach Hopson will lead us forward”, said Brown

Brown also informed the crowd that Coach Hopson's application included an extensive statement on APR – a critical marker for post-season eligibility and student-athlete graduation rates.

Hopson is a native of Vicksburg, Mississippi and was a four year letter winner as a defensive back at the University of Mississippi 1988-91.  During his matriculation at Ole Miss, he was named to the Academic All-SEC four times, and was also a member of the CoSIDA District VI Academic All-America team in 1991.

He received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Ole Miss in 1992 and his master's degree in health, physical education and recreation from Delta State in 1994.

As a coach, he received All-American Football Foundation Top Assistant Coach honor in 2007.

Before coming to Alcorn, Hopson was defensive coordinator at the University of Memphis.  Hopson's coaching career started as a graduate assistant at Tulane and has included stops at LSU, Florida, Marshall, Delta State, Southern Mississippi and Michigan.

Alcorn State will open the 2012 season against Grambling State in the Port City Classic on September 1, 2012.

Introductory Press Conference