JACKSON (AP) — Ernest Jones, an assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati, has named head football coach at Alcorn State.

Alcorn State officials announced the hiring Tuesday at a news conference in Jackson.

Jones is a 1995 Alcorn graduate and played wide receiver at the school for two seasons. He coached running backs at Cincinnati this season.

Jones, a Flint, Mich., native, is in just his eighth year as a collegiate coach and his first with Cincinnati after following coach Brian Kelly from Central Michigan.

Jones coached defensive backs at Central Michigan in 2005 and running backs in 2006. In 2004, he served as defensive coordinator for Oberlin College, an NCAA Division III school in Ohio.

Jones has ties to George Ross, Alcorn’s incoming president. Ross, who begins service on Jan. 3, comes to Lorman from Central Michigan, where he was vice president of finance and administrative services.

Alcorn went 2-8 in 2007 under Johnny Thomas, while posting the second-worst record in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Thomas had a 48-61 record during 10 years as coach of the Braves.