Zac Selmon Signs Contract Extension for Mississippi State Athletics

Aerial view of Mississippi State athletics facility with students participating in sports.

News Summary

Zac Selmon, the athletic director for Mississippi State, has secured a contract extension through 2029, including a salary increase. Since his appointment, Selmon has significantly impacted the athletics program, highlighting his commitment to excellence and recent advances like hiring head football coach Jeff Lebby. In related news, Starkville High School appointed Jay Hopson as its new athletic director, further shaping the future of athletics in Starkville.

Starkville, Mississippi – Athletic director Zac Selmon has signed a contract extension that will keep him in charge of Mississippi State Athletics until 2029. This new agreement includes a salary increase of an additional $100,000 per year for each year he completes in the contract.

Selmon was appointed as the successor to John Cohen in January 2023 and has significantly impacted the Mississippi State Athletics program since his arrival. Key accomplishments during his tenure include the hiring of head football coach Jeff Lebby, marking a new era for the football program. Looking forward, Selmon is also expected to play a vital role in the search for a new leader for Mississippi State’s baseball team, which is currently in transition.

Under Selmon’s leadership, Mississippi State Athletics has reached impressive new heights, reflecting his commitment to excellence in both sports and academic performance. He has focused on enhancing the overall student-athlete experience while fostering a winning culture within the athletic program.

Changes in Starkville High School Athletics

In a separate but related development, Starkville High School recently announced the hiring of Jay Hopson as their new athletic director. This confirmation was made by Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee. Hopson’s appointment follows a successful two-year period in which Dr. McGee served as the interim athletic director.

Hopson’s tenure as athletic director at Starkville High follows the departure of former athletic director Greg Owen, who took a position at Starkville Academy. During McGee’s interim leadership, he successfully hired new baseball and softball coaches among other staffing decisions.

Jay Hopson’s Background

At 56 years old, Hopson comes to Starkville High School with over 30 years of experience in collegiate football. He most recently coached cornerbacks at South Alabama for the past two seasons. His coaching career has spanned 12 different schools, with half of those located in Mississippi, showcasing his deep roots in the local football community.

Hopson played college football at Ole Miss from 1988 to 1991 and began his coaching career in 1992 at Tulane. He has held notable coaching positions at Southern Miss and Alcorn State, where he served as head coach from 2012 to 2015. During his time at Alcorn State, he led the team to two SWAC titles and a national championship in 2014, showcasing his capability as a leader and strategist on the field with a career head coaching record of 60-40.

Starkville’s Athletic Program

With Hopson’s impending leadership, the Starkville athletic program includes 19 sports, a coaching staff of more than 80 personnel, and over 600 student-athletes. One of his immediate challenges will be to find a new football coach following Chris Jones’s departure to Hinds College, a significant transition for the program. Hopson’s vision for the athletic department emphasizes competing for championships while simultaneously focusing on the development of complete student-athletes.

As both Selmon and Hopson embark on their respective journeys within Mississippi State and Starkville athletics, the two leaders share a common goal of enhancing the competitive edge and academic integrity of sports programs in their communities. The contract extension for Selmon and the hiring of Hopson mark a new chapter in the ongoing evolution of athletics in Starkville, with both leaders poised to make a lasting impact in their fields.