STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team is beginning to fill the coaching vacancies on its staff.
Scout.com reported Thursday that Louisville cornerbacks coach Terrell Buckley will take the same job at MSU. MSU hasn’t confirmed the report. Earlier in the day, coach Dan Mullen announced the promotion of Nick Savage to head strength coach.
Buckley replaces Tony Hughes, who left the program to become the new head football coach at Jackson State. Savage takes over for Rick Court, who left for Maryland after two seasons at MSU.
Buckley spent the last two seasons at Louisville. Prior to that, he spent two seasons as cornerbacks coach at Akron.
The Pascagoula native played 14 seasons in the NFL and won Super Bowl XXXVI with the New England Patriots. If Buckley joins the staff, MSU will have three Super Bowl rings. Cornerbacks coach Deshea Townsend won two with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Buckley made the move to college coaching at his alma mater, Florida State, as a graduate assistant in 2007. He spent five seasons with the Seminoles.
Hughes also served as MSU’s recruiting coordinator, but it’s unknown if Buckley will hold that role.
Savage served as the assistant strength coach the past two seasons. He served as the interim strength coach after Court left in December.
“Nick has played a vital role in the development of our players since his arrival,” Mullen said in a statement. “He understands what it takes to train at a championship level from the weight room to nutrition. He brings an infectious personality, energy and a purpose to our facility every day. Our players respect him and will continue to develop.”
The 26-year old interned at Bowling Green from January 2013-May 2013 and Ohio State from May 2013-January 2014. He served as a graduate assistant at Toledo for five months before arriving in Starkville. The Youngstown, Ohio, native earned his undergraduate degree in exercise science from Youngstown State in 2013 and is pursuing a master’s degree.
“You live for opportunities like this, and I am thrilled to continue to be a part of the special program we have here at Mississippi State,” Savage said. “We want to continue to raise the standard in everything we do. Our preparation for the 2016 season begins now. We will give relentless effort when we step into the building.”
n In related news, Football Scoop reported recruiting specialist Sleepy Robinson will be the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Jackson State. A JSU spokesperson confirmed he will be the new running backs coach.
The former Bulldog quarterback is the sixth assistant to accept a job at another school this offseason. Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz took the same position at Miami. Ephraim Banda, a defensive quality control assistant, followed Diaz to Miami and will be the safeties coach. Strength coach Niko Palazeti followed Court to Maryland.
Mullen has yet to fill the vacancies left by, Diaz, Banda, and Palazeti.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.