Jason Munz

Southern Miss Sports Writer

Jay Hopson is coming back to Hattiesburg.

Hopson has been hired to replace Todd Monken as Southern Miss' head football coach.

It’s the third stint with the Golden Eagles for the 47-year-old, who spent a combined six seasons in Hattiesburg as defensive backs coach from 2001-03 and defensive coordinator from 2005-07 under former Southern Miss head coach Jeff Bower.

Hopson is the 21st head coach in Golden Eagle history. A formal press conference will be held Monday at Southern Miss.

Golden Eagle athletic director Bill McGillis broke the news on Twitter Saturday night, posting a photo of the signed contract and another photo of himself with Hopson at Vicksburg Municipal Airport. McGillis subsequently tweeted "Welcome Jay Hopson to the #SouthernMiss family. Recruit Sunday. Team Sunday. Press conference Monday!" Neither McGillis nor Hopson responded to requests by the Hattiesburg American for comment.

The search for Monken's replacement lasted more than six days, as Monken resigned on Jan. 24 to take a job as offensive coordinator with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Hopson, a Vicksburg native, has spent the past four seasons at Alcorn State as the Braves’ head coach. During his tenure in Lorman, Hopson led the SWAC squad to a 32-17 overall record and back-to-back conference championships in 2014 and 2015. Hopson, the first white football coach in SWAC history, led Alcorn State to the SBN Sports College Football National Championship in 2014.

Following a one-year stop as defensive backs coach at Delta State (1993), Hopson spent five seasons (1996-2000) in the same position at Marshall. After his first stop at Southern Miss, Hopson returned to his alma mater, Ole Miss — where he played safety from 1988-91 — for one season before rejoining the Golden Eagles.

Hopson coached linebackers at Michigan for two seasons and served as the defensive coordinator at Memphis in 2010 and 2011.

In his first two seasons as defensive coordinator at Southern Miss, the Golden Eagles led Conference USA in scoring defense. Hopson’s side of the ball also led the league in pass efficiency defense, opponent's 3rd down conversions and red zone defense in 2005 and 2006.

Southern Miss’ defense under Hopson was among the most opportunistic in the country, leading the nation in fumble recoveries and finishing fifth in Division I football in turnovers created per game.

As defensive backs coach for the Golden Eagles in 2003, Hopson’s group allowed the second-fewest passing touchdowns in the country.