Hopson signs extension

Published 1:24 pm Friday, August 8, 2014

Alcorn State head coach Jay Hopson agreed to a three-year contract extension Thursday, extending his current contract through the 2017 season. Hopson has led the Braves to a 13-10 record in his first two years at the helm, including a 9-3 record last season. The nine wins were the most at ASU since 1974.

“This is truly an honor. We have a lot of work that we have to do in order to bring this school a championship,” Hopson said. “My coaches and I plan to put in our best effort to get our players in championship form.”

Hopson made history in 2012 by becoming the first white head coach in Southwestern Athletic Conference history. He was nominated for the Eddie Robinson Award last season and has already coached the most All-SWAC players in ASU history.

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“We really appreciate what Coach Hopson has done in elevating our football program to the next level,” university president Alfred Rankins Jr. said. “It feels good to be recognized as one of the top teams in the SWAC.”

The Vicksburg native played four years as a defensive back at Ole Miss from 1988-1991 before beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Tulane in 1992. Hopson coached defensive backs at Southern Miss from 2001-2003 and took over as defensive coordinator for the Golden Eagles from 2005-2007.

Details of the contract were not immediately made available.