The Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District (SOCSD) is looking to maintain its athletic prowess by bringing in a former Division I head football coach to lead the MHSAA 7A program’s athletic department.
Jay Hopson, who has over three decades of collegiate coaching experience, was announced as athletics director by the SOCSD on Tuesday. The hiring of Hopson had already been in the works with the move being approved during a January school district Board of Trustees meeting.
Hopson, 56, most recently served as an assistant coach at South Alabama with prior stops at Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Alcorn State, Memphis, Michigan, Ole Miss, Marshall, Florida, LSU, Delta State, and Tulane.
The high point of Hopson’s career on the sidelines may have come in Norman when he transformed a struggling Alcorn State program into one of the best in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. His four-year mark of 32-17 came with two SWAC championships and one HBCU national championship.
Hopson’s success on the FCS level segued into him being hired by Southern Miss in 2016 after Todd Monken left to be the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hopson’s overall record in Hattiesburg wrapped up at 28-23, with three bowl appearances, before resigning days after the 2020 season-opener.
Hopson then served as an analyst under Mike Leach at Mississippi State from 2021-22 before coaching the cornerbacks at South Alabama from 2023-24. While Jaguar head coach Major Applewhite hoped to keep Hopson on his staff in Mobile, the veteran coach decided to make the move to Starkville instead.
“I’m excited about this opportunity to lead the Yellow Jacket athletics program,” Hopson said, per a news release. “We want to compete for championships on the field, on the court, in the classroom and in the community. Consistency is very important, and we want our coaches to develop the complete student-athlete who is ready to take on the challenges that come in life.”
Hopson will be tasked with overseeing the administration and operation of 19 sports across six grades within the SOCSD. More than 80 coaches and over 600 athletes will be under Hopson’s purview.
“Jay is a proven leader,” Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee said. “He brings a wealth of experience as a player, coach, and administrator to our athletics program that I believe will position our coaches, teams, and students for success. We are excited about the future of Jacket Athletics under his leadership and look forward to him taking our programs to a new level of excellence.”
Hopson played four years as a safety at Ole Miss, where he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration, before turning in the cleats for a clipboard. While serving as a graduate assistant at Delta State, he received a master’s degree in health in physical education and recreation.
