LORMAN — The seven Alcorn State assistant football coaches whose contracts were not renewed have gotten their jobs back.

Associate head coach Earnest Collins confirmed that the coaches met Monday with university president George Ross, who issued them letters of reinstatement.

Athletic Director Darren Hamilton and head coach Ernest Jones were not at the meeting.

Hamilton said Tuesday night that he could not answer whether the coaches got their jobs’ back.

He did, however, acknowledge that a lawsuit has been filed against him, although he would not comment on the terms of the suit.

Hamilton had chosen not to renew the coaches’ contracts following Alcorn State’s 26-21 loss to Jackson State in the Capital City Classic Nov. 22.

He issued the coaches letters notifying them of their non-renewal, but refused to give a reason for their dismissal.

Jones alleged that he had no knowledge of the plan to release the coaches he had handpicked before Hamilton arrived at the university and said Hamilton would not tell him his reasoning.

Jones could not be reached for comment.

Associate head coach Earnest Collins, who said he has seen no new contract as of Tuesday night, said the past couple weeks have been tough on his family.

“I’m a man of God. The Lord puts you through certain things, and you learn from them,” he said. “I took (the letter from Ross) as an answered prayer. For another 30 days I’ll be able to take care of my family.”

Collins, who is also the Braves’ defensive coordinator, said he and the other coaches are unsure if they will accept a new contract for next year.

He was surprised, he said, to be let go, and even more surprised to be reinstated.

“If got wants me to be here, I’ll be here. If not, I won’t,” he said.

The other six coaches who received letters of reinstatement were offensive coordinator Dino Dawson, running backs coach Terrance Robinson, linebackers and special teams coach Zach Shay, secondary coach Jack Phillips, defensive line coach Keith Majors and strength and conditioning coach Lorenzo Guess.

They were told in the letters of non-renewal that they would be paid until Dec. 31.

Collins, who is in charge of recruiting for Alcorn in southeast Mississippi, Houston, Alabama and Florida, said it has been difficult to convince prospects to come to the university at a time when so many jobs have been in question.

“Some are up in the air, trying to figure out what happened, what’s going on,” Collins said. “It’s always a battle when this is happening in recruiting. You go out and fight for the recruits you have relationships with, and they become a part of what you’re trying to build.”

The Braves were 2-10 this season, including 1-6 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, in Jones’ first year as head coach.

Jones was hired by Ross in December of last year, nearly four months before Hamilton was hired.