Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District has named Jay Hopson as the new Director of Athletics, overseeing the administration and operation of a program which encompasses 19 sports for 7th through 12th graders, a coaching staff of more than 80 and over 600 student athletes. The hiring of Hopson was approved at the January meeting of the SOCSD Board of Trustees.
James (Jay) Hopson currently serves as an Assistant Coach for the University of South Alabama football program and brings more than thirty years of coaching and administrative experience to the Yellow Jacket Athletics program. He has served as Director of High School Relations for Mississippi State University, as well as Head Football Coach for the University of Southern Mississippi and Alcorn State University.
"Jay is a proven leader," says SOCSD Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee. "He brings a wealth of experience as a player, coach and administrator to our Athletics program that I believe will position our coaches, teams and students for success. We are excited about the future of Jacket Athletics under his leadership and look forward to him taking our programs to a new level of excellence."
In more than three decades in collegiate athletics, Hopson has developed extensive experience not only in coaching, but in player development, leadership development, Title IX, recruitment, fundraising and facilities management. He has worked closely with the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) and the Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC) and has served as a collegiate liaison with other athletic administrators across Mississippi and surrounding states.
In his football coaching career, Hopson holds an overall 60-40 winning record as a Head Coach and has led teams to conference and national titles, including the HBCU National Championship. He was named the BOXTORROW National Coach of the Year in 2014 and has the distinction of being the only coach to lead two different Mississippi institutions to bowl games. His career has allowed him to work with a number of collegiate conferences nationally, including the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC), Conference USA, Sun Belt Conference and the Big Ten. He has successfully recruited high school athletes nationally and JUCO athletes in every community college in the state of Mississippi.
"I'm excited about this opportunity to lead the Yellow Jacket Athletics program," Hopson says. "We want to compete for championships on the field, on the court, in the classroom and in the community. Consistency is very important, and we want our coaches to develop the complete student athlete who is ready to take on the challenges that come in life."
When it comes to culture and the values he hopes to instill throughout Jacket Athletics, Hopson credits his own experience with shaping his goals –– experience as an athlete and his extensive time on the field coaching and shepherding students.
"From an early age as a player and in my professional life, values like structure, hard work, knowledge, discipline and teamwork were key ingredients to success," he says. "As an Athletic Director, I want all of our programs to have those core attributes."
Starkville High School athletic teams boast student athletes who sign each year to compete in community college and Division I and II athletics in a number of sports, including football, basketball, baseball, tennis, soccer, cheer, track, volleyball, golf and swim. Hopson's work at the collegiate level was one of the things that made him an attractive fit for the Athletic Director position, SOCSD administration shared.
"For many of our students, athletics are a driver for getting them engaged in the classroom, and success on the field provides a pathway to higher education," says McGee.
Hopson agrees, and is eager to bring his experience with college looks and recruitment to help Starkville athletes achieve that dream.
"Many high school student athletes have a desire to participate on the collegiate level," he says. "Because of how I've served in those institutions over the years, I can give them insight at an early age into what college coaches are looking for and what it takes to achieve that goal. But more importantly, I want our student athletes to be developed in a program which teaches core values that help them win outside of sports."
Establishing a consistent culture and mindset among Jacket coaches, teams and athletes is an important goal for Hopson and part of his approach to moving the Starkville athletic programs to the next level.
"I want to be a servant leader," Hopson says. "Our coaches have to believe and push those core values I mentioned, and that starts with me. I want us to be successful in all sports, and I want them to have everything they need to succeed in competition, as well as in pushing students to be their best in every arena."
Superintendent Tony McGee agrees.
"Our coaches and athletic administrators are father figures for a lot of our students, so creating consistent culture and expectations is important," says McGee. "We see our athletes being involved in a bigger picture of school. To be successful, they have to be resilient on the field, and that translates right back to the classroom. I'm impressed with Coach Hopson's approach to building student athletes into strong adults who are prepared to plug back into our community."
"Teamwork in the classroom and on the field is built through core values," Hopson shares. "And that's what this journey is all about for our young men and women."
Hopson has already begun work leading the Yellow Jacket Athletic program. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Mississippi and a Master's Degree in Education from Delta State University. His wife, Michelle, taught previously in the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District while Hopson served at Mississippi State. They are the parents of two daughters, Hyde and Hannah.