LORMAN, Miss. – The Alcorn State University football program brought back one of its own, as it announced the hiring of Darien Moody as defensive ends coach.
“We’re really happy to have Coach Moody back here at Alcorn. He did an outstanding job last year at Mississippi Valley, and Coach [Cedric] Thornton is excited about having a young, energetic coach on staff. He will be a great influence to our student-athletes,” said Alcorn head coach Fred McNair.
Moody graduated from Alcorn in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in business administration. He was a two-time All-Conference First-Team selection and helped the Braves win back-to-back SWAC Championships in 2014 and 2015.
Moody remained at Alcorn and served as a defensive graduate assistant in 2017. The Braves won the SWAC East Division and returned to the SWAC Championship game that season.
“I’m very excited to be back home on The Reservation where I played and was a GA as well. Being embraced by so many familiar faces in the Alcorn community is a special feeling,” Moody said. “I’m blessed to be given the opportunity to come back and work under a great head coach in Coach McNair, and a great defensive coordinator in Coach Thornton. I hope that we can continue the winning tradition and bring the fifth championship in seven years to The Reservation.”
In 2018, he worked in a similar capacity at Southern Miss and coached the No. 3 ranked defense in football as the Golden Eagles finished 6-5.
Most recently, Moody worked as the defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator at Mississippi Valley State in 2019. He coached Jerry Garner who led the SWAC in sacks with nine and was an All-Conference selection.
Moody is a native of Columbus, Ohio, and Gahanna Lincoln High School. In 38 games at Alcorn, he registered 102 tackles, 15 sacks, and five forced fumbles.
Courtesy: Alcorn State Athletics
