Maurice Drayton, an assistant coach for the Coastal Carolina football team the last two seasons, acknowledged Sunday that he has been offered a coaching position on the staff at Southern Mississippi and that he will accept the job.
Drayton said no contract has been signed yet, but he does plan to join new Golden Eagles head coach and former South Carolina defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, with whom he worked previously at The Citadel.
"What I can tell you is a job has been offered," Drayton said over the phone Sunday. "I've known coach Johnson for many years. He gave me my first full-time job. I consider him to be one of my fathers in coaching. I always looked to him for advice and looked to him for direction over the years. We're both Citadel graduates, each from South Carolina, so we've got many bonds on many different levels. I respect him and think the world of him."
Drayton spent the last two seasons as Coastal's assistant head coach, special teams coordinator and receivers coach. He was one of two CCU assistant coaches who had a remaining year on his contract, but the status of the Chants' staff has been in flux since longtime head coach David Bennett was relieved of his duties on Dec. 9.
Drayton had an interview for the Chants' head coaching position, but the university ultimately selected Joe Moglia as its next coach.
Moglia has the final decision on the status of the leftover coaches as he assembles his own staff, which he announced he would start finalizing early this month.
The Clarion-Ledger reported Drayton's position at Southern Miss would be as the team's secondary coach. He did not want to comment further until a contract is signed and the move becomes official.
The Golden Eagles compete at the FBS level of Division I football, representing a step up for Drayton from FCS member Coastal.
| Ryan Young, ryoung@thesunnews.com
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