Fred McNair named Alcorn's interim head coach

INERIM HEAD FOOTBALL COACH FRED MCNAIR
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY

LORMAN, Mississippi -- After Jay Hopson took the head coaching job at Southern Miss, Alcorn State elected to name Fred McNair as its interim coach, the school announced on Saturday night.

McNair had been on the Braves' staff since Hopson arrived in 2012. He was the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach. He oversaw the development of quarterbacks John Gibbs Jr., who was SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year in 2014, and Lenorris Footman when Gibbs went down with an ankle injury halfway through the 2015 season.

According to a release from Alcorn State, Derek Horne, Braves athletic director, said they'll go through a national search for Hopson's permanent replacement and that the search would begin "immediately."

With national signing day coming up this Wednesday, Alcorn State was placed in a tough spot following Hopson's departure.

Under McNair's watch, Gibbs passed for 2,482 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 1,006 yards in 2014. In 2013, Gibbs passed for 2,567 and 21 touchdowns. He also rushed for 455 yards.

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