After the Art Briles controversy, Jay Hopson will hire a decidedly uncontroversial offensive coordinator.
Sources told FootballScoop on Monday that Arkansas State offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner will be the new offensive coordinator at Southern Miss.
Faulkner spent the past three seasons calling plays at A-State, helping the Red Wolves share one Sun Belt championship and another share of the Sun Belt West Division title. Prior to Arkansas State, Faulkner spent four seasons as the offensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee and one at Murray State. In just one campaign with the Racers, Faulkner helped Murray State break 27 school records and also record the first 500-yard passer, 200-yard rusher and 200-yard receiver combination in a single game in FCS history.
A former Valdosta State quarterback, Faulkner helped his alma mater win the 2007 Division II national championship as quarterbacks coach.
Faulkner replaces Shannon Dawson, who left after three seasons in Hattiesburg to become Dana Holgorsen's tight ends coach at Houston. Southern Miss finished No. 109 nationally in yards per play and No. 90 in scoring; the Golden Eagles went 6-5 but did not garner a bowl bid last season.
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