Mississippi State names Ron English as safeties coach
STARKVILLE – Dan Mullen has added another veteran defensive coach to his staff.
Ron English, a former head coach at Eastern Michigan, was named Mississippi State’s new safeties coach Thursday. The Clarion-Ledger reported earlier in the day that English would be announced as the Bulldogs’ newest assistant coach.
He served as San Jose State’s defensive coordinator this past season.
English was head coach at Eastern Michigan from December 2008 until November 2013, when he was fired after a recording of his profanity-laced rant toward players became public. English said in a story published by The Detroit News in 2014 that he learned from the mistake and that it made him rethink his priorities and refocus. He was named MAC coach of the year in 2011 when he led the Eagles to a 6-6 record, 4-4 in the conference. It was EMU's first .500 or better record since 1995.
Before his stint at Eastern Michigan, English was the defensive coordinator at Louisville in 2008 and Michigan from 2006-07.
During his time at Michigan, English was regarded as one of the top defensive assistants in college football. In 2006, Rivals.com named him its National Defensive Coordinator of the Year and one of the nation’s top-25 college recruiters.
English's unit in 2007 at Michigan finished eighth in the nation in pass defense and 17th in pass efficiency defense. English was Michigan’s defensive backs coach from 2003-05.
English will replace Maurice Linguist, who is now the defensive backs coach at Minnesota.
MSU is set to have significantly more coaching experience on the defensive staff than it did in 2016.
English is the second longtime college coach to join MSU’s defensive staff. The Bulldogs named coaching veteran Todd Grantham their new defensive coordinator last month after first-time coordinator Peter Sirmon went to Louisville.
The moves were made in an effort to help improve a defense that struggled last season.
MSU allowed 31.8 points and 281.5 passing yards per game last year. It finished sixth in the SEC with 14 interceptions.
Contact Will Sammon at 601-961-7091 or wsammon@gannett.com . Follow him on Twitter .