USM Hires a New Offensive Coordinator
HATTIESBURG- Southern Miss football coach Jay Hopson has reached an agreement on a new offensive coordinator.
Buster Faulkner, who held the same positon at Arkansas State the last three seasons, looks to take over the Southern Miss offense.
FootballScoop.com was the first news outlet to break this story.
Before the hiring
Some controversy spread after the thoughts that former Baylor head coach Art Briles would be the new candidate for the job. Briles was spotted on campus having an interview with Jay Hopson for the offensive coordinator position.
When a statement was released by the University on the decision that he would not be hired, coach Jay Hopson had his own statement to say.
“Although I respect the decision of Dr. Rodney Bennett, I disagree with it. I am so grateful for the grace and forgiveness God gives me which allows me to inherit his kingdom, which I do not deserve. I have interviewed for an assistant position at Southern Miss and I believe he is a man who believes a second chance. He is a man that seemed sincere and humble in his interview and personally he committed no crime. He may not have acted in the proper protocol but that would be my JOB at Southern Miss. He was interviewing for an assistant position even though I believe he will be a head coach at a major program in the near future. However, I believe he is a man who does love the Lord and deserves a second chance. He has been banned from a job in college football for three years and has been punished. I understand both sides have opinions, this is just mine.”
Briles was fired by Baylor in May of 2016 after a third-party law firm’s investigation into misconduct in the athletic department found that football coaches failed to report complaints against players.
Faulkner’s Beginning
Buster Faulkner began his coaching career at Valdosta State in Valdosta, Georgia. He played quarterback for the school back in 2000 to 2003. He earned a 47-6 record as a starter. After his quarterback days he worked with the Blazers staff as a student assistant in 2005. During the following year he was given the privilege to work under coach Mark Richt as a graduate assistant at Georgia. He soon returned back to Valdosta State for two seasons as a quarterback coach and one season as offensive coordinator. He would help his former alma mater win the 2007 Division II national championship.
He would then serve as the offensive coordinator for only one season at Murray State in 2010 shortly after working as the quarterbacks coach at Central Arkansas in 2009. While at Murray State, his offense averaged 36 points per game and he helped the team rank fourth nationally in passing offense with 315 yards per contest. He helped the Racers break 27 school records and record the first 500-yard passer, 200-yard rusher and 200-yard receiver combination in a single game in FCS history.
Faulkner served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Middle Tennessee from 2012-2015. He quickly took over the team’s play-calling duties midway through the 2012 season.
From Tennessee to Arkansas
While there, Faulkner sat down with RWRC radio network to talk about his journey to Arkansas State and joining the Red Wolves staff. When asked what the hardest about being a coach he explained it was very difficult to pick up his family and move from place to place. He said he put a little stress on the kids changing schools and having to make new friends. He gave praise for his wife being the rock that held the family together. He said she was very supportive of his decision to be a coach and knowing the sacrifices they would have to make. He explained how she dealt with the changes as they came and understood what it took for him to be a successful coach. Faulkner said the easiest part of his profession was just to be a coach. Being a coach came natural to him since he has been doing it awhile. He feels at home when he is on the field teaching players how to learn from their mistakes and become better athletes.
After his successful season with Middle Tennessee the Red Wolves came calling. During Faulkner’s time at Arkansas State, he only coached the tight ends and held the offensive coordinator title while coach Blake Anderson served as the team’s offensive play-caller and quarterbacks coach. During his first season with Arkansas in 2016 the team reached the 500-yard mark twice, with five offensive players being named to the All-Sun Belt Conference team. The following year he was there the team posted 400 or more yards offensively in all but two games. They had a school record total of 781 yards against Louisiana-Monroe. In the year of 2017, 11 players on the offense side earned All-Sun Belt honors. Quarterback Justice Hansen was elected the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year.
Faulkner was let go from the Red Wolves in January after they finished their season 8-5. Two other Arkansas State offensive staff members were also let go, despite them scoring 30.3 points per game while picking up 469.1 yards per game.
Joining Southern Miss
Faulkner replaces Shannon Dawson as the offensive coordinator. Dawson who was with the Southern Miss Golden Eagles for a few seasons accepted a position as the tight end coach for Houston under Dana Holgorsen.
“An Ultimate Leader” is how Faulkner described Jay Hopson when working with the Golden Eagle Staff. He believes that Hopson is a tremendous man and agrees for what he stands for. To Faulkner that is where everything starts. He had nothing but great things to say for the upcoming 2019 season and cannot wait to see what is in store.
The Golden Eagles finished last season No. 109 nationally in yards per play and No. 90 in scoring.
Southern Miss recorded one of the worst run games of the season but Faulkner is hoping to shed some light and regain control for the start of 2019.
“We have to be able to run the ball to win Championships” “That’s been the history of football”
He wants the team to know it all starts with toughness and being upfront. As a staff member he hopes to have that kind of communication with everyone.
Another key ingredient he wants to work on is finding the teams identity. He wants the team to establish who they are as a player. Help build confidence within themselves.
When asked on what would be a major difference in last year’s scheme, he made the statement; “ I would be lying to you if I sat here and told you what exact scheme they did last year.”
Even though he hasn’t brushed up on it he believes on the spread of the offense, there is only a certain amount of runs you can have. He still wanted to emphasize on the importance of identity and finding yourself early on in the season and what you are cable of doing and staying with that.
Faulkner believes he is mixing with the guys pretty well so far. He appreciates the gifted players USM has recruited and he is looking forward to seeing them express their talent on the field.
The Southern Miss roster seems to be filled up with a lot of sophomores and juniors. That doesn’t seem to bother coach Faulkner, though, He knows what he has to do to get these young players ready.
With pressure mounting up on the offensive side, coach Faulkner says he is up for the task and ready than ever to prove himself.
From a player’s side
Among those young players returning is quarterback Jack Abraham. Before coming to Southern Miss he played for Northwest Mississippi Community College. He threw for 2,949 yards and 214-of-337 throws with 23 touchdowns passes and only eight interceptions.
He led the team to an 8-3 record, including the MACJC title contest in which they lost 67-66 to East Mississippi Community College. Posted a season high 487 yards passing in that contest with five touchdown passes and one interception. Collected 300-yard passing games four times during the year and tallied an overall efficiency rating of 154.8.
“They’ve been taking him good, receiving him and everything, learning from mistakes.”
Is what Jack Abraham had to say about the team getting to know Faulkner. Jack also knows that the team is young this season but that doesn’t worry him at all. He said he was confident in today’s practice learning new plays and terminology. The Defensive side seems pretty solid this season. He agreed that they have to make a comeback on the running game if they want to win games.
Southern Miss did not post a bowl game last season and Abraham is hoping that will be motivation in determining how bad the team wants to succeed this year.
