It’s official, Joey Jones has joined Joe Moorhead’s first Mississippi State staff.

The former South Alabama head coach was announced as Moorhead’s special teams coordinator Thursday evening. From 2008 – 2017, Jones was the head coach of the Jaguars. Ironically enough, the biggest win of his career came against Mississippi State in the 2016 season opener.

Moorhead offered up this statement on Jones via a release from the school:

“We are fortunate to have someone of Joey’s caliber and experience join our Bulldog family. Joey is a terrific man who has coached for nearly three decades in the region, including 10 seasons as a head coach. He is going to play a vital role in our recruiting efforts in addition to his duties as special teams coordinator.”

Jones also offered up a statement in the release:

“Joe Moorhead is a first class man and coach, and I want to thank him for this tremendous opportunity. Secondly, coaching in the best football conference in the country has always been a goal of mine. The Jones family is thrilled to join the Bulldog family, and we look forward to being a part of the great tradition here at Mississippi State.”

Mississippi State’s new special teams coordinator is an Alabama graduate and was inducted into the Mobile Hall of Fame in 2011. He has extensive coaching ties to the state of Alabama, both as a college and high school head coach, and should provide Moorhead and his staff a great presence in the state moving forward in recruiting.