Report: Mississippi State tabs USC's Peter Sirmon as next defensive coordinator

According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, Mississippi State has found its next defensive coordinator.

Lindsey Thiry reported the Trojans' associate defensive head coach, linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator Peter Sirmon will replace Manny Diaz, who left Starkville to join Mark Richt's staff at Miami.

Sirmon, a former Oregon standout and NFL veteran with the Tennessee Titans, won't be brand new to the SEC. The Walla Walla, Wash., native spent one season as Tennessee's safeties graduate assistant in 2010. He was promoted to linebackers coach the following season. He also coached linebackers in 2012 and '13 at Washington. He then followed Steve Sarkisian and joined the USC staff in 2014.

Sirmon will be MSU head coach Dan Mullen's fifth defensive coordinator -- and sixth hire -- in eight seasons. Carl Torbush was Mullen's first defensive coordinator in 2009. Diaz then served as coordinator in '10 before leaving for Texas. Chris Wilson was DC in '11 and '12, and Geoff Collins filled the role in '13 and '14 before Diaz returned prior to the '15 season.

This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 5:27 PM with the headline "Report: Mississippi State tabs USC's Peter Sirmon as next defensive coordinator ."