With the 12-team Southwestern Athletic Conference seemingly a bit more open heading into the 2023 season after Jackson State's historic two-year run under Deion Sanders, Alcorn is seeking to regain its status as one of the conference's top programs.
To that end, Alcorn head coach Fred McNair has found a new defensive line coach for the Braves after McNair saw multiple members of his staff raided this offseason.
Derrien Covington is on staff and already helped Alcorn finish out spring camp.
Covington, who started his collegiate playing career at SWAC program Mississippi Valley State before he finished at Delta State, comes to Alcorn with coaching experience at both the high school and collegiate levels.
In addition to having most recently served on staff at his alma mater, Delta State, where he coached the defensive line, Covington also has coached in the prep ranks in Mississippi and in addition to being an on-field assistant coach also has experience as a strength and conditioning assistant at the Football Bowls Subdivision level at Tulane.
Alcorn opens its 2023 season in a money game against FBS program Southern Mississippi before traveling a week later to face perennial Football Championship Subdivision playoff-contender Stephen F. Austin.
The Braves, who under McNair have been a consistent challenger for SWAC titles and an annual top HBCU program initiate SWAC play Sept. 23 against Prairie View A&M.