Alcorn State athletic director Patric Simon has resigned from his position after less than two months on the job, according to a report on the Tspnsports.com website.

The resignation comes one week after Alcorn State announced the hiring of Jay Hopson, a Vicksburg native, as the school’s new football coach. Hopson became the first white head football coach in the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s history.

Simon was hired by ASU President Dr. M. Christopher Brown on Feb. 24 and officially began working in his new position on April 24. Simon came to Alcorn after a three-year stint as the athletic director at Langston University.

Simon released a statement, saying he was leaving for personal reasons.

“I will always be grateful to Alcorn State University, President Brown, the student-athletes that make Alcorn a great institution and the alumni/boosters from across Mississippi and the United States,” Simon said. “While I will not be able to lead Alcorn’s athletic programs any longer, I wish Alcorn State well in all of their future endeavors.”

Simon was noticeably absent from Hopson’s hiring announcement at Dr. Brown’s residence on Memorial Day.

He was involved in the search because Brown made the statement that one of the reasons a decision was not made the week of Alcorn State’s commencement — which was held May 5 — was that he had not talked with Simon, who was traveling with the Alcorn State baseball team at the SWAC Tournament.