Southern Miss football coach Jay Hopson resigns after season-opening loss
Southern Miss football coach Jay Hopson has resigned his post just one game into the 2020 season, USM announced on Monday.
Hopson’s Golden Eagles struggled on their home field in the season opener, losing 32-21 to South Alabama on Thursday night in the first meeting between the two football teams.
“Coach Hopson came to me after last Thursday’s game to discuss what was on his heart and after much discussion over the weekend, he and I agreed that new leadership for our football program is needed,” USM athletic director Jeremy McClain said in a statement. “Coach Hopson has been a part of our program for 10 years. I appreciate his commitment to Southern Miss and wish Jay and his family nothing but the best.”
Co-offensive coordinator Scotty Walden, who is 30 years old, will serve as the interim head coach.
The loss to a program that has yet to record a winning season since it was first established in 2009 drew plenty of heat from Golden Eagle fans. The USM and USA campuses are separated by about 90 miles and the two programs consistently recruit the same area.
Hopson had a winning mark in each of his first five seasons on the job, but the team never advanced to the Conference USA title game under his watch. He would finish with a 28-23 mark at in Hattiesburg.
“After heartfelt discussion with Jeremy, we have come to a mutual agreement for me to step down as head coach,” Hopson said in a statement. “I am in total agreement with this change in leadership and truly believe it is in the best interest of the players, coaches and this entire program. I cannot thank (USM president Rodney Bennett) and our administration enough for the opportunity that they gave me. I wish Southern Miss nothing but the best and am thankful for all that they have done for me and my family.”
Hopson’s worst stretch as the USM head coach were his final four games — all losses that saw the Golden Eagles struggle on both sides of the ball.
Hopson, a former Alcorn State head coach, had three stints at USM. He was the Golden Eagles’ secondary coach in 2001-03 under Jeff Bower and returned as defensive coordinator 2005-07.
As the lowest paid coach in Conference USA, Hopson was making $500,000 a year.
Walden served as the youngest head coach in the NCAA in 2016 at Div. III East Texas Baptist at the age of 26, leading the team to a 7-3 season. He is regarded as an up and coming offensive mind.
Walden took over as head coach at ETBU after serving three years as the program’s offensive coordinator. Walden previously served as the offensive coordinator at Div. III Sul Ross State in 2012.
Brett McMurphy of Stadium and Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports were the first to report the details of Hopson’s resignation.
This story was originally published September 7, 2020 at 3:43 PM.
