CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (ESPN Clarksville) Austin Peay State University introduced Mark Hudspeth as its 20th head football coach Wednesday at the Dunn Center.

Hudspeth is former associate head coach at Mississippi State and former head coach of Louisiana. He will also be introduced at halftime of the men’s basketball game against Purdue For Wayne, this Saturday.

“I am proud to be the head football coach here at Austin Peay. We’re looking forward to jumping in with both feet in the community and doing everything we can to make our program a championship football program,” said Hudspeth.

Hudspeth comes to Austin Peay after spending the 2018 season as the associate head coach and tight ends coach at Mississippi State. The Bulldogs finished the regular season 8-4 and ranked No. 18 in the College Football Playoff poll. Hudspeth has 16 years of head coaching experience at the FBS, NCAA Division II and high school levels, and his teams went a combined 142-60 with him at the helm.

Prior to joining Joe Moorhead’s staff at Mississippi State, Hudspeth spent seven seasons (2011-17) as the head coach of the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. In each of his first four seasons, the Ragin’ Cajuns finished 9-4, with victories in the New Orleans Bowl in each of those seasons. The 2011 victory in the New Orleans Bowl was the program’s first bowl appearance since 1970. The Cajuns appeared in the New Orleans Bowl again following the 2016 season.

The 2013 Ragin’ Cajuns were co-Sun Belt Champions after finishing tied atop the regular-season standings, and finished in the top three of the conference standings in each of his first four seasons.

Six players from Hudspeth’s Louisiana teams were selected in the NFL Draft, including Tracy Walker, who went 85th overall to the Detroit Lions in the 2018 NFL Draft – the first player from Louisiana selected in the Draft’s first three rounds since 2011.

Prior to turning around a Louisiana program that was 3-9 before his arrival, Hudspeth made his first coaching stop in Starkville, serving as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at Mississippi State for two seasons (2009-10). During his tenure, he tutored wide receiver chad Bumphis, who would go on to set the MSU record in career receiving yards.

Hudspeth had tremendous success as head coach at then-NCAA Division II North Alabama, leading the Lions to a 66-21 record in seven seasons (2002-08). During his time at the helm of the program, UNA won two Gulf South Conference championships and competed in the Division II Championship five times.

Hudspeth is married to the former Tyla McConnell and is the father of four sons: Gunner, Captain, Major and Rocky; and one daughter, Carley.