STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team anticipates announcing the final piece to its coaching staff next week.
MSU coach Dan Mullen said Wednesday at his National Signing Day media conference he has had talks about filling his final open staff position, but that he wanted to wait until after the 2014 recruiting season to finalize the hire.
“January is the silly time in college football,” Mullen said. “You have a dead period and that is followed by the finishing of recruiting. As soon as you end the season, there’s not a chance to catch your breath, or even reflect. There’s no time to even review.”
It has been 18 days since a MSU release stated “contract adjustments for the remainder of the MSU coaching staff are expected to be announced in the near future.” Three noteworthy offensive assistants could be promoted to replace the offensive coordinator opening left by the departure of Les Koenning, who left MSU on Jan. 15 to become Texas’ new wide receivers coach. Wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales, offensive line coach John Hevesy, and/or running backs coach Greg Knox could be in the running for a new title but not much more responsibility in terms of play calling on Saturdays in the fall.
“I called all the plays for us last year. I spent a lot of time with the quarterbacks,” Mullen said. “The two quarterbacks who are coming in know that I was sort of the quarterback coach anyway. They didn’t have to wait and see who it may be. Fortunately how that worked out it allowed us to take our time. Hopefully, within the next week we’ll have something in place.”
Mullen also addressed Wednesday the speculation that a special teams coach is being considered for the first time since he took the MSU job in 2009.
“We’ve looked at a few things,” Mullen said. “When you look at the priority of a position, you can get pulled in different directions.”
MSU is without a designated special teams coach. Currently, the entire staff contributes to that unit and Mullen takes responsibility for the kicking game. Gonzales was the special teams coach at Utah, where he led the Utes to the nation’s best 28.2 yards per kickoff return in 2003. Utah also was third in the country in net punting yards (40.8) and fifth in kickoff returns during the 2004 season (26.2).
Last season, Devon Bell and Evan Sobiesk combined to go 9 of 20 on field goals last season.
MSU brought in Logan Cooke from Columbia Academy, but Mullen suggested Wednesday he would be more considered a punter and kickoff specialist than a field goal kicker.
“I am really excited about him,” Mullen said. “I know punting and kicking off is his specialty more than being a place kicker, but I know for his high school team he did all three.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.