Croom Reorganizes Football Coaching Staff
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University head football coach Sylvester Croom announced Tuesday a realignment of his coaching staff following the Sunday addition of assistant Melvin Smith.
Smith, who coached the safeties for three seasons at Texas A&M, will be in charge of the entire MSU defensive backfield when spring drills begin March 6. He previously coached the Bulldog defensive backs from 1996-2001. Smith replaced running backs coach Freddie Kitchens on the staff, when the latter accepted an assistant coaching assignment with the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys.
Shane Beamer, who has served on Croom's staff as cornerbacks coach, will now tutor the MState running backs while maintaining his role as the staff recruiting coordinator. Beamer previously worked on the offensive side of the ball as a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech in 2000.
Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, who previously worked with the safeties, will now devote his specific positional attention to middle and weak-side linebackers.
Amos Jones will continue his role as special teams coach and will instruct the strong-side linebackers.