Austin Peay has a new head coach:

[Libertine]

Chalk another odd college football occurrence to "the COVID".

Yahoo (among others) is reporting that Scotty Walden, offensive coordinator and interim head coach at FBS Southern Miss, has left the program mid-season to take over the head coach position at Austin Peay. Walden missed USM's game last week after testing positive for the virus and, apparently, just won't go back after quarantine.

Tim Billings -- former SEMO head coach and USM's third head coach in two months -- will coach the Golden Eagles the rest of the way. Probably.

https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-southern-miss-on-third-coach-this-season-as-scotty-walden-departs-for-austin-peay-160532084.html

[Anthony215]

I don't know about the timing in this unless there was some real shady things going on at Southern Miss, why would he up and leave the program mid season to take on the AP job? Was he told he wasn't going to be considered for the permanent position and thus felt he needed to secure his future immediately?

[Mocs123]

Perhaps the old saying a "bird in hand is worth two in the bush" applies here.

[Libertine]

I don't know about the timing in this unless there was some real shady things going on at Southern Miss, why would he up and leave the program mid season to take on the AP job? Was he told he wasn't going to be considered for the permanent position and thus felt he needed to secure his future immediately?

An easy answer is $$$. Southern Miss is one of the lowest paid FBS gigs in the country (Hopson made $500K) and, even as the interim head coach, Walden was only making $110K.

You could also make the argument that AP has an obvious commitment to their program and is prepared to make things happen while USM doesn't. There are some who believe a lack of commitment of resources may be why Hopson left in the first place.

[DFW HOYA]

I don't know about the timing in this unless there was some real shady things going on at Southern Miss, why would he up and leave the program mid season to take on the AP job? Was he told he wasn't going to be considered for the permanent position and thus felt he needed to secure his future immediately?

There were three possibilities and two weren't very good.

1. He wasn't going to be offered the HC job. If so, you take what's available.
2. A new coach is being sought and he wouldn't be retained. See #1.
3. He could have been offered the HC but the situation wouldn't be stable enough to commit there.

[CockyGeek]

He wasn't winning games at USM. He can go to AP and get a longer contract and less expectations.

[FUBeAR]

New Coach is losing a big piece...

https://twitter.com/jo2k_4/status/1323365399359033346