Alcorn State hires Jay Hopson

Alcorn State has hired former Memphis defensive coordinator Jay Hopson as its football coach.

The school announced the hiring on Monday, saying on its website that it is the first Southwestern Athletic Conference program to hire a ''non-black'' as its head coach.

Hopson replaces Melvin Spears, who was fired in February after going 2-8 in his only season.

Hopson resigned from Memphis' staff in September 2011. He also has coached at Marshall, Delta State, Southern Mississippi and Michigan.

He played defensive back at Mississippi from 1988-91.