STARKVILLE — New Mississippi State football head coach Joe Moorhead continued to assemble his staff with the official announcement of two hires on Sunday.

The school announced that it has hired Bob Shoop as its defensive coordinator, and Marcus Johnson as offensive line coach.

Shoop has served as a defensive coordinator for 15 years, including the past two seasons at Tennessee. Before that, he spent two seasons at Penn State.

Tennessee allowed 449.2 yards per game and gave up 5.84 yards per play in 2016. In 2017, it surrendered 5.94 yards per play and ranked last in the Southeastern Conference with only five interceptions.

Shoop’s defenses at Penn State, however, ranked 15th in the country in total defense in 2015 and tied for first in the FBS in sacks per game.

“Bob is a terrific defensive mind,” Moorhead said in a release. “He will put our players in position to succeed both on and off the field. We are excited to have him in Starkville.”

Shoop will be Mississippi State’s fifth defensive coordinator in five seasons, and ninth in 12 seasons.
Mississippi State ranked in the top 25 in the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing yards allowed per game, passing yards allowed and total yards under Todd Grantham this season. Grantham followed former MSU head coach Dan Mullen to Florida to become the defensive coordinator there.

“The foundation is here to have an outstanding football team, and I look forward to developing our players and maximizing their potential,” Shoop said.

Johnson played four seasons in the NFL and spent the last two years as the offensive line coach on David Cutcliffe’s staff at Duke. He had been on Duke’s staff in a couple of other roles since 2011.
Johnson played college football at Ole Miss, where he was an All-SEC and all-state offensive lineman.

He is a native of Coffeeville, Miss.

“My job is to make our offensive line the best it can possibly be,” Johnson said. “I want them to develop athletically, mentally and physically. I am here to be a mentor to our players, and I am excited about the challenge and opportunity. I am also grateful to get closer to home and my family.”