Miss. State fires offensive, defensive coordinators

STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI - Mississippi State fired offensive coordinator Sparky Woods, defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn and three other assistants Monday following the team&#39;s second straight three-win season. <br> <br> There was speculation that Bulldogs coach Jackie Sherrill could be on his way out, after the Bulldogs finished the season 3-9 and 0-8 in the Southeastern Conference. <br> <br> Instead, he made sweeping changes to his staff. <br> <br> ``I&#39;m not doing what&#39;s best for Jackie Sherrill,&#39;&#39; he said. ``I&#39;m doing what&#39;s best for the players, the program and Mississippi State.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Also fired were wide receivers coach Craig Stump, offensive line coach Carroll McCray and defensive line coach John Hendrick. <br> <br> Sherrill said he spent the weekend evaluating his coaching staff and came to the decision to make the moves Sunday. <br> <br> Dunn had been defensive coordinator since 1996, leading some of the most successful defenses in the Southeastern Conference. In 1999, the Bulldogs led the nation in total defense, but in the last two years Dunn&#39;s squads had slipped to the bottom of the SEC rankings. <br> <br> Dunn was defensive coordinator at Arkansas before being hired by Sherrill. <br> <br> Woods, who was also Mississippi State&#39;s quarterbacks coach, was offensive coordinator at Virginia when he was hired by Sherrill in 1999. <br> <br> In Woods&#39; four seasons at Mississippi State, only in 2000 were the Bulldogs among the most productive offensive teams in the SEC. That season, Mississippi State averaged 32.5 points per game and led the SEC in rushing. <br> <br> But in 2001 the Bulldogs were the lowest scoring team in the conference and second-to-last in total offense. <br> <br> The Bulldogs showed little improvement this season, averaging less than 19 points per game and ranking 10th in total offense in the 12-team SEC. <br> <br> Mississippi State quarterbacks threw 22 interceptions this season. <br> <br> Woods was the fourth offensive coordinator to work for Sherrill at Mississippi State. <br> <br> He replaced Lynn Amedee, who resigned after three seasons in 1999. Watson Brown (1991-92) and Bruce Arians (1993-95) have also served as offensive coordinators during Sherrill&#39;s 12 seasons as coach. <br> <br> Phone calls to Dunn and Woods&#39; homes were not answered. <br> <br> Sherrill said he hopes to have replacements in place in about two weeks.

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