Sources: Terry Bowden, ULM tabbing former FBS head coach to defensive coordinator role
Terry Bowden made his return to the Football Bowls Subdivision coaching ranks with a solid 2021 campaign at Louisiana-Monroe, where the Warhawks won four games after a winless 2020 season.
Now, after losing Rich Rodriguez and Zac Alley, among other key staffers to Jacksonville State in Rodriguez's return as a head coach, the former Auburn University head coach Bowden is making a big move to fortify his program's defense.
Sources tell FootballScoop that Bowden is planning to hire Jay Hopson to run the ULM defense.
A former head coach at both Alcorn State, at the Football Championship Subdivision level, and FBS head coach for five seasons at Southern Mississippi, where he guided the Golden Eagles to a trio of bowl appearances, Hopson spent the 2021 season as a defensive analyst for Mike Leach's Mississippi State program.
But Hopson has a deep coaching history, both as an assistant coach and atop programs, with a 60-40 career record.
Hopson has worked in the Southeastern Conference at LSU, Florida and Ole Miss; he also was Michigan's linebackers coach and defensive coordinator earlier in his career.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest coaching news.
Friday update> Sources tell FootballScoop Bowden's offer to Hopson remains open; but as of this morning the deal has not been finalized. Will update once more is clear.
