Turner returning to MSU as defensive line coach

January 10, 2013

Turner

David Turner will be making a return to Starkville.

On Wednesday, it was learned that Turner was returning to the Mississippi State football coaching staff as the defensive line coach. 

Turner is taking over for Chris Wilson, who left to take the defensive line coaching position at Georgia.

Turner was the defensive line coach at MSU from 2007-2009. 

"Going back to Miss State! Go Dawgs!," Turner tweeted from his Twitter account Wednesday morning.

Turner spent the last two years as the defensive line coach under coach Joker Phillips at Kentucky. 

During his time at MSU in his first stint, Turner coached such players as Pernell McPhee who now plays for the Baltimore Ravens. 

During his 26-year coaching profession, Turner has coached at SEC schools Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Alabama and MSU. He has also coached at North Carolina State, Virginia and Minnesota.

At press time, Turner had not returned phone calls to the Starkville Daily News.

The hiring of Turner takes place several days after it was learned that co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Geoff Collins was promoted to defensive coordinator in the place of Wilson.

It was later learned last Friday night, that Wilson was expected to take the position at Georgia. Georgia officials made the hire official today via Twitter.

Wilson was hired at Mississippi State in 2010 as the co-defensive coordinator and line coach, then took over as the sole coordinator the last two seasons. He also coached previously at Oklahoma and Colorado.

"Chris is a tremendous teacher, outstanding recruiter, mentor and brings a wealth of knowledge in coaching the defensive line to our program," Georgia coach Mark Richt said in an Associated Press report. "He has an extensive background not only as a position coach but also as a coordinator and is a very solid fit with what we do on defense."

Mississippi State ranked 16th nationally in scoring defense (19.7 points per game) in 2011, but slipped to 34th this past season (23.3) and struggled down the stretch. The Bulldogs lost five of their last six games, giving up an average of nearly 34 points. They closed the regular season with a 41-24 loss to rival Mississippi and fell to Northwestern 34-20 in the Gator Bowl.

So, Wilson is moving to Athens.

"Our family is excited to have the opportunity of coaching at one of the top institutions in college football," he said in a statement. "I'm looking forward to being part of the Georgia program and putting all our energy and effort into winning games and championships, which I know is the goal of all those in the Georgia football family."