HATTIESBURG — Southern Miss completed its 2020 football coaching staff Thursday by announcing the hirings of assistant coaches Tony Pecoraro, Matt Kubik and Cedric Thomas.

Pecoraro returns to the staff as the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach, while Kubik joins the program as an offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach and Thomas as defensive backs coach. Current assistant Akeem Davis will take over the running backs.

The offensive coaching staff for the 2020 season will include Kubik and Davis; Scotty Walden as co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers; Ryan Stanchek at offensive line; and Tim Billings at tight ends.

Joining Pecoraro on defense will be Thomas, Reed Stringer as nickel backs coach, and Chris Boone with the defensive line.

Pecoraro rejoins Southern Miss after serving as a senior analyst for defense last season at Kansas. Prior to that, he was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Florida Atlantic in 2018.

Pecoraro originally joined the Southern Miss staff in 2016 as defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach, and put together two Top 20 total defenses nationally. He also worked as head coach Jay Hopson’s defensive coordinator at Alcorn State, where they won two SWAC championships together.

Kubik comes to Southern Miss after working the last four seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Louisiana-Monroe.

Last season, Kubik’s offense ranked No. 17 nationally at 460.9 yards per game, with his rushing attack holding a No. 26 ranking.