From staff reports

STARKVILLE — New Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen made one of the first hires for his staff on Sunday, bringing in North Alabama head coach Mark Hudspeth as an assistant.

The hire is pending approval by the Board of Trustees, Institutions of Higher Learning.

Hudspeth has spent the last seven seasons at North Alabama, leading the Lions to a 66-21 record. His UNA teams have won a pair of Gulf South Conference championships and made five NCAA Division II playoff appearances.

Before that, he helped Delta State — his alma mater — win the 2000 Division II national championship as offensive coordinator and also spent the 2001 season in the same job at Navy.

In 2000, Hudspeth’s option-based offense at Delta State broke 21 school records, 12 Gulf South Conference records, and six Division II records.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to coach at Mississippi State and with Coach Mullen,” Hudspeth said in a release from Mississippi State. “I couldn’t be at a better place in the country or with a better head coach, and I’m thankful for this opportunity.”

This season, Hudspeth led North Alabama to its fourth consecutive 10-win season, posting a 12-2 record and earning a berth in the Division II semifinals. The Lions led the Gulf South Conference and ranked sixth nationally in scoring, with 41.3 points per game. UNA also reached at least the Division II quarterfinals for the fourth straight season.

Hudspeth has also had coaching stints at Central Arkansas, Nicholls State and Winston Academy.

“We’re thrilled to add another coach that has won a national championship and will bring that winning attitude to Mississippi State,” Mullen said in a release from the school. “The remarkable offensive numbers that his teams put up at North Alabama speak for themselves, and his strong ties to the state of Mississippi make him a perfect fit.”