Updated: Feb
Former Alcorn State head coach Jay Hopson was officially introduced as the 21st head coach at Southern Miss during a press conference early Monday.
Hopson, who coached at Alcorn State for four seasons, with the final two resulting in back-to-back SWAC championship titles, signed a four-year deal with the Hattiesburg, Miss. program that will pay him an annual base salary of $500,000 a year.
According to a report by the Sun Herald, Hopson will have to pay Southern Miss $2 million if he leaves for another job within the first three years of his contract.
If Hopson leaves Southern Miss in the final year of his contract, he will have to pay the school $500,000.
Hopson will receive a $15,000 bonus for any win over a school from a Power 5 conference and will earn $10,000 each week Southern Miss is ranked in the top 25 of the College Football Payoff.
While at Alcorn State, Hopson’s initial base salary was $150,000 a year plus incentives, but a contract extension resulted in a pay raise to $185,000 a year plus incentives.