STARKVILLE — Mississippi State has found it’s new defensive coordinator.

Southern California’s Peter Sirmon is set to be hired by MSU, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday. MSU has not confirmed the hire.

For the past two seasons, Sirmon served as the Trojans’ associate defensive head coach, linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator.

Before heading to USC, Sirmon served as the linebackers coach (2012-13) and the recruiting coordinator (2013) for the University of Washington. When Steve Sarkisian was hired by USC in 2013, he brought Sirmon with him.

He served as a graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee in 2010 and became the linebackers coach in 2011. He was also a graduate assistant at the University of Oregon, his alma mater, in 2009. He coached linebackers at Central Washington before returning to his alma mater.

The Walla Walla, Washington, native played linebacker for the Tennessee Titans for seven seasons (2000-06).

He would replace Manny Diaz, who left after only one season to take the same position at the University of Miami.

Multiple reports surfaced last week that Terrell Buckley was hired as the new safeties coach, but MSU has not confirmed that hiring either. He will take over for Tony Hughes who was hired by Jackson State. MSU coach Dan Mullen announced last week that Nick Savage was promoted to head strength coach, replacing Rick Court who took the same position at the University of Maryland.

Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait

Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.