Alcorn State reinstates 7 coaches

LORMAN, Miss. – The seven Alcorn State assistant football coaches whose contracts were not renewed have been given their jobs back.

Associate head coach Earnest Collins confirmed that the coaches met Monday with university president George Ross, who issued them letters of reinstatement.

Athletics director Darren Hamilton and head coach Ernest Jones were not at the meeting.

Hamilton, the former athletics director at Eastern Washington who was dismissed after seven months in Cheney, said Tuesday night that he could not answer whether the coaches got their jobs back.

He did, however, acknowledge that a lawsuit has been filed against him, although he would not comment on the terms of the suit.

Hamilton had chosen not to renew the coaches’ contracts following Alcorn State’s 26-21 loss to Jackson State in the Capital City Classic Nov. 22.

He issued the coaches letters notifying them of their non-renewal, but refused to give a reason for their dismissal.

Jones alleged that he had no knowledge of the plan to release the coaches he had handpicked before Hamilton arrived at the university and said Hamilton would not tell him his reasoning.

Jones could not be reached for comment.

Collins, who said he has seen no new contract as of Tuesday night, said the past two weeks have been tough on his family.

Collins, who is also the Braves’ defensive coordinator, said he and the other coaches are unsure if they will accept a new contract for next year.

The other six coaches who received letters of reinstatement were offensive coordinator Dino Dawson, running backs coach Terrance Robinson, linebackers and special teams coach Zach Shay, secondary coach Jack Phillips, defensive line coach Keith Majors and strength and conditioning coach Lorenzo Guess.

The Braves were 2-10 this season, including 1-6 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, in Jones’ first year.

Jones was hired by Ross in December of last year, nearly four months before Hamilton was hired.