{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1968)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox college coach | name = Jay Hopson | image = 2017-0719-CUSA-JayHopson.jpg | alt = | caption = Hopson at 2017 C-USA Media Days | current_title = Athletic Director | current_team = Starkville High School | current_conference = | current_record = | contract = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|10|13}} | birth_place = Vicksburg, Mississippi, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = Ole Miss<br>Delta State | player_years1 = 1988–1991 | player_team1 = Ole Miss | player_positions = Safety | coach_years1 = 1992 | coach_team1 = Tulane (GA) | coach_years2 = 1993 | coach_team2 = Delta State (DB) | coach_years3 = 1994 | coach_team3 = LSU (GA) | coach_years4 = 1995 | coach_team4 = Florida (GA) | coach_years5 = 1996–2000 | coach_team5 = Marshall (DB) | coach_years6 = 2001–2003 | coach_team6 = Southern Miss (DB) | coach_years7 = 2004 | coach_team7 = Ole Miss (DB/RC) | coach_years8 = 2005 | coach_team8 = Southern Miss (DC/DB) | coach_years9 = 2006–2007 | coach_team9 = Southern Miss (DC/MLB) | coach_years10 = 2008–2009 | coach_team10 = Michigan (LB) | coach_years11 = 2010–2011 | coach_team11 = Memphis (DC/S) | coach_years12 = 2012–2015 | coach_team12 = Alcorn State | coach_years13 = 2016–2020 | coach_team13 = Southern Miss | coach_years14 = 2021–2022 | coach_team14 = Mississippi State (DA/DHSR) | coach_years15 = 2023–2024 | coach_team15 = South Alabama (CB) | coach_years16 = 2025-present | coach_team16 = Starkville High School (AD) | overall_record = 60–40 <!-- As of games through 9/3/20 --> | bowl_record = 1–3 | tournament_record = | championships = 2× SWAC (2014, 2015)<br>2× SWAC East Division (2014, 2015)<br>1 black college national (2014) | awards = | coaching_records = }} '''James Walter Hopson''' (born October 13, 1968) is an American college football coach and former player. He was most recently the cornerbacks coach for the University of South Alabama from 2023 to 2024. He has been a head coach at Southern Miss and Alcorn State. In the latter role, he was the first white head football coach in the history of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, an organization composed of historically black colleges and universities. Hopson has also served as an assistant coach at Tulane, Delta State, LSU, Florida, Marshall, Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Michigan, and Memphis.

== Coaching career == Hopson's coaching career began with a stint as a graduate assistant with Tulane in 1992. Delta State hired him to coach defensive backs for the 1993 season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hilsdon|first=Donald|title=Ex-Viking Lands In Delta St. System |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vicksburg-post-ex-viking-lands-in-de/159944354/ |newspaper=The Vicksburg Post |date=1993-09-02 |page=40 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-28}}</ref> He left Delta State in July 1994 to be a graduate assistant at LSU.<ref>{{cite news |title=LSU names graduate assistant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-town-talk-lsu-names-graduate-assista/159944616/ |newspaper=The Town Talk |date=1994-07-15 |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-28}}</ref> For 1995, he was a graduate assistant at Florida during that team's Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship run.<ref name="2019mediaguide">{{cite web | url=https://f002.backblazeb2.com/file/cpbmedia/cusa/usm/19mediaguide/19usm_coach.pdf | title=2019 Southern Miss Football Media Gate | date=2019 | pages=8–9 | last=Southern Miss Athletics}}</ref>

=== Marshall === Following the 1995 season, Marshall hired Florida defensive coordinator Bob Pruett as its new head coach, and Hopson joined his staff as defensive backs coach.<ref name="ha20010303">{{cite news |title=Marshall coach in line to take USM position |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hattiesburg-american-marshall-coach-in-l/159945331/ |newspaper=Hattiesburg American |date=2001-03-03 |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-28}}</ref> 1996 was Marshall's final season at the Division I-AA level and the team won the I-AA championship. In 1997, Marshall moved up to NCAA Division I-A and competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference. Under Hopson, the 1999 and 2000 teams led the country in interceptions.<ref name="cl20010318">{{cite news |last=Kelly|first=Todd|title=Hopson thankful for job in native state |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-hopson-thankful-for-job-i/157771345/ |newspaper=Clarion-Ledger |date=2001-03-18 |page=31 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-28}}</ref>

=== Southern Miss and Ole Miss === Southern Miss hired Hopson as its defensive backs coach in 2001. Hopson succeeded Tyrone Nix, who was elevated to defensive coordinator to replace Dave Wommack.<ref name="cl20010318" /> Hopson coached defensive backs from 2001–2003, during which time Southern Miss' pass defense was one of the best in the country. In 2004, Hopson returned to Ole Miss, his alma mater, to improve its defensive backfield.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wallace|first=Michael|title=Doc for ailing secondary |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-doc-for-ailing-secondary/159946379/ |newspaper=Clarion-Ledger |date=2004-09-03 |page=33 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-28}}</ref> Ole Miss fired head coach David Cutcliffe at the end of the season, and Hopson returned to Southern Miss as defensive coordinator.<ref>{{cite news | last=Jones|first=Al|title=Hopson, Eagles together again |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-herald-hopson-eagles-together-again/159946748/ |newspaper=Sun Herald |date=2004-12-23 |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-herald-hopson-eagles-together-again/159946748/ 35], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-herald-hopson-eagles-together-again/159946810/ 38] |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-28}}</ref>

Hopson served as defensive coordinator from 2005–2007 under long-time head coach Jeff Bower. Southern Miss forced Bower to resign following the 2007 season, and new head coach Larry Fedora did not retain Hopson for his staff.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jones|first=Al|title=Golden Eagles in shock |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-herald-golden-eagles-in-shock/159989268/ |newspaper=Sun Herald |date=2007-11-27 |page=20 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Murphy|first=Sean P.|title=Hopson headed to Michigan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vicksburg-post-hopson-headed-to-mich/159988806/ |newspaper=The Vicksburg Post |date=2008-01-09 |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vicksburg-post-hopson-headed-to-mich/159988806/ 25], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vicksburg-post-hopson-headed-to-mich/159988874/ 28] |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-29}}</ref>

=== Michigan and Memphis === Michigan hired Hopson in January 2008 to coach linebackers under incoming head coach Rich Rodriguez.<ref>{{cite news |last=Magee|first=Patrick|title=Freshman Benite fitting in nicely with USM squad |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hattiesburg-american-freshman-benite-fit/159989676/ |newspaper=Hattiesburg American |date=2008-01-13 |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-29}}</ref> Hopson departed Michigan after the 2009 season to become defensive coordinator at Memphis under new head coach Larry Porter.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hopson in line for Memphis job |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vicksburg-post-hopson-in-line-for-me/159990342/ |newspaper=The Vicksburg Post |date=2009-12-24 |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-29}}</ref> Hopson resigned from Memphis on September 14, 2011, following consecutive blowout losses against Mississippi State and Arkansas State. Mike DuBose and Galen Scott succeeded Hopson as co-defensive coordinators. Hopson was offered–and declined–an opportunity to remain on staff in a different role.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stukenborg|first=Phil|title=Porter makes change at def. coordinator |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-porter-makes-change-at-d/157771065/ |newspaper=The Jackson Sun |date=2011-09-15 |page=23 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-09-14 |title=Memphis defensive coordinator Hopson resigns |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/6970644/memphis-tigers-defensive-coordinator-jay-hopson-resigns |access-date=2024-12-22 |work=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> Memphis fired Porter at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Porter dismissed as Memphis coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vicksburg-post-porter-dismissed-as-m/159991005/ |newspaper=The Vicksburg Post |date=2011-11-28 |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-29}}</ref>

=== Alcorn State === Alcorn State hired Hopson to be its head football coach on May 28, 2012. Hopson was the first white head football coach in the history of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, which is composed of historically black colleges and universities. Hopson succeeded Melvin Spears, under whom the program had gone 2–8 the previous year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alcorn hires first white SWAC football coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenwood-commonwealth-alcorn-hires/157770192/ |newspaper=The Greenwood Commonwealth |date=2012-05-29 |page=A7 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-29}}</ref> Hopson was head coach at Alcorn State for four seasons, from 2012–2015. His overall record at Alcorn State was 32–17. Both the 2014 and 2015 teams won the SWAC Championship Game; the 2014 was named the black college football national champion.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cleveland|first=Rick|title=Hopson's revival of Alcorn football impressive |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenwood-commonwealth-hopsons-revi/159992374/ |newspaper=The Greenwood Commonwealth |date=2015-12-09 |page=A8 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-29}}</ref>

=== Southern Miss === Hopson returned to Southern Miss on January 30, 2016, this time as its head coach.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Munz |first=Jason |date=2016-01-30 |title=USM names Jay Hopson football coach |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/southern-miss/2016/01/30/usm-names-jay-hopson-football-coach/79589824/ |access-date=2024-11-29 |work=The Clarion-Ledger |language=en-US}}</ref> Hopson coached four full seasons with Southern Miss, resigning after the first game of the 2020 season. His overall record at Southern Miss was 28–23, with one win in three bowl appearances. A highlight of Hopson's tenure was a 2015 win against Kentucky, Southern Miss' first win against an SEC school since 2000. Co-offensive coordinator Scotty Walden succeeded Hopson as interim head coach.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hopson out, Walden in as USM football coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/enterprise-journal-hopson-out-walden-in/159993248/ |newspaper=Enterprise-Journal |date=2020-09-09 |page=A12 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-29}}</ref>

=== Mississippi State and South Alabama === Mike Leach hired Hopson as a defensive analyst and Director of High School Relations at Mississippi State in March 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last=Horka|first=Tyler|title=High Praise |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hattiesburg-american-high-praise/157769987/ |newspaper=Hattiesburg American |date=2021-03-21 |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/hattiesburg-american-high-praise/157769987/ C1], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/hattiesburg-american-high-praise/157770079/ C2] |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-11-29}}</ref> Leach died unexpectedly on December 12, 2022, at the age of 61.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Langlois |first1=Brandon |last2=Salter |first2=Sid |date=December 13, 2022 |title=MSU Bulldog family, college football community mourns the death of Coach Mike Leach |url=https://hailstate.com/news/2022/12/13/football-msu-bulldog-family-college-football-community-mourns-the-death-of-coach-mike-leach.aspx |access-date=December 13, 2022 |website=Mississippi State Bulldogs Athletics |language=en}}</ref>

South Alabama hired Hopson as its cornerbacks coach in January 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://usajaguars.com/news/2023/2/7/football-jay-hopson-named-cornerbacks-coach-for-the-jags.aspx|title=Jay Hopson named cornerbacks coach for the Jags|date=7 February 2023 |publisher=University of South Alabama Athletics|access-date=February 7, 2023}}</ref> Head coach Kane Wommack was a walk-on at Southern Miss in 2007 when Hopson was defensive coordinator there, and Kane's father Dave was linebackers coach at the time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stephenson |first=Creg |date=2023-01-30 |title=South Alabama hires Jay Hopson as cornerbacks coach |url=https://www.al.com/usa/2023/01/south-alabama-hires-jay-hopson-as-cornerbacks-coach.html |access-date=2024-11-29 |work=AL.com |language=en}}</ref> Kane Wommack departed South Alabama after the 2023 season to become defensive coordinator at Alabama; new head coach Major Applewhite retained Hopson on his staff.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stephenson |first=Creg |date=2024-02-05 |title=South Alabama officially announces 5 members of 2024 football staff |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2024/02/south-alabama-officially-announces-6-members-of-2024-football-staff.html |access-date=2024-11-29 |work=AL.com |language=en}}</ref> Hopson would step down from South Alabama on January 7, 2025.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=CoachHopson|number=1876615373874761918|title=Thank you to the South Alabama staff & administration!! It’s been fun!! 2 Bowls & a Belt!! Looking forward to the next adventure!!!|access-date=January 17, 2025}}</ref>

==Head coaching record== {{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Subhead | name = Alcorn State Braves | conf = Southwestern Athletic Conference | startyear = 2012 | endyear = 2015 }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 2012 | name = Alcorn State | confstanding = 5th {{small|(East)}} | overall = 4–7 | conference = 4–5 | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 2013 | name = Alcorn State | overall = 9–3 | conference = 7–2 | confstanding = T–2nd {{small|(East)}} | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = national | year = 2014 | name = Alcorn State | overall = 10–3 | conference = 7–2 | confstanding = 1st {{small|(East)}} | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference | year = 2015 | name = Alcorn State | overall = 9–4 | conference = 7–2 | confstanding = 1st {{small|(East)}} | bowlname = Celebration | bowloutcome = L | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal | name = Alcorn State | overall = 32–17 | confrecord = 25–11 }} {{CFB Yearly Record Subhead | name = Southern Miss Golden Eagles | conf = Conference USA | startyear = 2016 | endyear = 2020 }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 2016 | name = Southern Miss | overall = 7–6 | conference = 4–4 | confstanding = 3rd <small>(West)</small> | bowlname = New Orleans | bowloutcome = W | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 2017 | name = Southern Miss | overall = 8–5 | conference = 6–2 | confstanding = 3rd <small>(West)</small> | bowlname = Independence | bowloutcome = L | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 2018 | name = Southern Miss | overall = 6–5 | conference = 5–3 | confstanding = T–2nd <small>(West)</small> | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 2019 | name = Southern Miss | overall = 7–6 | conference = 5–3 | confstanding = 3rd <small>(West)</small> | bowlname = Armed Forces | bowloutcome = L | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 2020 | name = Southern Miss | overall = 0–1 | conference = | confstanding = <small>(West)</small> | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal | name = Southern Miss | overall = 28–23 | confrecord = 20–12 }} {{CFB Yearly Record End | overall = 60–40 | bowls = no | poll = no | polltype = }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://usajaguars.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/jay-hopson/2112 South Alabama profile]

{{Alcorn State Braves football coach navbox}} {{Southern Miss Golden Eagles football coach navbox}} {{1996 Marshall Thundering Herd football navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hopson, Jay}} Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:American football defensive backs Category:Alcorn State Braves football coaches Category:Delta State Statesmen football coaches Category:Florida Gators football coaches Category:LSU Tigers football coaches Category:Marshall Thundering Herd football coaches Category:Memphis Tigers football coaches Category:Michigan Wolverines football coaches Category:Mississippi State Bulldogs football coaches Category:Ole Miss Rebels football coaches Category:Ole Miss Rebels football players Category:South Alabama Jaguars football coaches Category:Southern Miss Golden Eagles football coaches Category:Tulane Green Wave football coaches Category:Players of American football from Vicksburg, Mississippi