Louisville football to hire Peter Sirmon as new defensive coordinator

In a move that has been in the works for some time, Louisville football is set to hire Peter Sirmon as its new defensive coordinator. Sirmon spent the past season as the defensive coordinator for Mississippi State, the same program that has now hired former U of L defensive coordinator Todd Grantham.

It's confusing, but I know you can keep up. I believe in all of you.

Sirmon played four years of linebacker at Oregon before moving on to a seven-year career with the Tennessee Titans. He held coaching jobs at Oregon, Tennessee, Washington and USC before taking the defensive coordinator gig at Mississippi State prior to last season.

Sirmon's lone season with the Bulldogs was not overly successful. Mississippi State ranked 110th in the country in total defense, and surrendered the most yards and second-most points of any team in the SEC. Here's hoping that had more to do with the lack of talent in Starkville than anything else.

According to FootballScoop.com, U of L is also expected to hire Fresno State defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward to serve as its new secondary coach. Ward replaces Keith Heyward, who spent one season at U of L before joining Willie Taggart's new staff at Oregon.

Louisville is expected to officially announce the hiring of Sirmon once his contract has been finalized.