Football
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Phone:
- 325-2534
- Position(s):
- Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Season at MSU: 1st
Twitter: @CoachSirmon
One of the rising defensive playcallers in the nation, former NFL linebacker Peter Sirmon enters his first season at Mississippi State as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
Sirmon, 39, arrives in Starkville after serving two seasons at Southern Cal as the associate head coach, recruiting coordinator and linebackers coach. He was the interim defensive coordinator during the Trojans’ 2015 Holiday Bowl against Wisconsin.
In 2015, Sirmon’s guidance propelled outside linebacker Su’a Cravens to All-Pac-12 first-team honors. Cravens was taken in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. Inside linebacker Cameron Smith was selected as the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in addition to being named a freshman All-American by USA Today. Smith was second nationally in interceptions by freshmen linebackers with three – all of which came in a 42-24 rout of No. 3 Utah on Oct. 25.
Sirmon’s leadership in his two seasons as recruiting coordinator in Los Angeles helped the Trojans bring in the nation’s top signing class in 2015 according to Scout.com and the No. 10 signing class in 2014. USC inked 12 top-100 recruits in the winter of 2015.
Prior to his stint at USC, Sirmon was the linebackers coach at Washington (2012-13), including recruiting coordinator in his final season of 2013. The Wenatchee, Washington, native coached eventual NFL first round draft choice Shaq Thompson during his All-Pac-12 honorable mention season as a sophomore. Thompson is now a starting linebacker for the Carolina Panthers.
During Sirmon’s first season in Seattle, he mentored sophomore John Timu, an honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection and team captain. Timu signed a free agent contract with the Chicago Bears following the 2015 NFL Draft and was on the active roster during the season.
Sirmon is no stranger to the Southeastern Conference. His first full-time FBS job was as the linebackers coach at Tennessee in 2011. He was a graduate assistant working with safeties during the Vols’ 2010 Music City Bowl campaign.
Sirmon got his start in the coaching ranks in his home state as the linebackers coach at Central Washington in 2008. The Wildcats earned a top-five ranking in the polls with a 10-2 record and a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Sirmon played seven NFL seasons at linebacker with the Tennessee Titans from 2000-06, starting 54 games and registering 343 career tackles. The Titans won two AFC South divisional titles and made three playoff appearances during his tenure.
Sirmon was a fourth round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft after a standout career at Oregon. He started all four seasons (1996-99) and was selected to the Senior Bowl. A first-team All-Pac-10 selection as a senior, Sirmon was the squad’s leading tackler in 1997 and 1999.
Sirmon received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Oregon in 1999. He prepped at Walla Walla (Wash.) High School.
Sirmon and his wife, Lindsay, have four children: son Jackson and daughters Presley, Savanna and Sadie.
Coaching Experience
2016-present: Mississippi State (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2014-15: Southern Cal (Associate Head Coach/Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator)
2013: Washington (Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator)
2012: Washington (Linebackers)
2011: Tennessee (Linebackers)
2010: Tennessee (Graduate Assistant Safeties)
2009: Oregon (Graduate Assistant)
2008: Central Washington (Linebackers)
Bowl Games as a Coach (year indicates season)
2015: Holiday Bowl (USC)
2014: Holiday Bowl (USC)
2012: Las Vegas Bowl (Washington)
2010: Music City Bowl (Tennessee)
2009: Rose Bowl (Oregon)
2008: Division II Playoffs (Central Washington)
* - did not coach in 2013 Fight Hunger Bowl
Playing Experience
2000-06: Tennessee Titans
1996-99: Oregon
Bowl Games as a Player (year indicates season)
1999: Sun Bowl (Oregon)
1998: Aloha Classic (Oregon)
1997: Las Vegas Bowl (Oregon)
Personal Information
Birthdate: Feb. 18, 1977
Hometown: Wenatchee, Wash.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science from Oregon, 1999
Wife: Lindsay
Children: Son - Jackson; Daughters – Presley, Savanna, Sadie
