CLEVELAND, Miss. -- Delta State University Head Coach Todd Cooley announced the hiring of Jesse Thompson as the school's new secondary coach on Friday. Thompson replaces Nick Popiel who resigned following the 2016 season.
 
"Coach Thompson came highly recommended and brings a wealth of coaching experience to our staff," Cooley said. "We are proud and excited to welcome Jesse as a member of the DSU family."
 
"I am excited to work at a great institution like Delta State University and coach with some good coaches in one of the most competitive conferences in Division II," Thompson said. "Thankful to Coach Cooley for extending the offer and I am juiced about the opportunity and ready to work!"
 
Thompson brings over 11 years of coaching experience at the collegiate and high school levels to the Delta, most recently serving as the Co-Defensive Coordinator and Secondary Coach at Virginia Union University in 2016. Thompson was also responsible for opponent breakdown, special teams game plan and depth chart, and playbook development.
 
Prior to Virginia Union, the Meridian, Miss., native spent five seasons at Oklahoma Panhandle State in Goodwell, Okla., closing his stint as the defensive coordinator in 2015. Thompson served as safeties coach/special teams coordinator in 2014, defensive coordinator/secondary coach from 2012-2014 and secondary/strength and conditioning coach from 2009-2012.
 
Thompson led OPSU defenses ranked fourth nationally in sacks and tackles for loss in 2015 and first in pass efficiency, fifth in total defense and 16^th in pass defense in 2016.  In 2011, the Aggies' secondary ranked second nationally in total defense and pass defense.
 
Thompson served a brief stint as a defensive assistant at the University of Louisiana Lafayette from May 2014 to August 2014 in between Oklahoma Panhandle State assignments. His responsibilities included inside linebackers while recruiting the Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas area.
 
Early coaching career stops included Kemper County High School (Defensive Coordinator, 2008-2009) in DeKalb, Miss., Northwest Mississippi Community College (2006-2008) in Booneville, Miss., and Meridian High School (2005) in Meridian, Miss.
 
Thompson, who has been a member of the American Football Coaches Association since 2010, participated in the 2014 NCAA/NFL Coaches Academy and the NFL Bill Walsh Coaching Fellowship in 2016 as a defensive assistant with the Pittsburg Stealers.
 
Thompson graduated from Oklahoma Panhandle State in 2014 with a degree in health, physical education and recreation.