Former Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop is leaving the sinking ship in Knoxville — heading to Mississippi State to work under another former Penn State coordinator, Joe Moorhead, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.

Sources tell Chris Low and me that Mississippi State is hiring Bob Shoop as its defensive coordinator. Shoop spent the past two years at Tennessee after serving as defensive coordinator at Penn State and Vanderbilt. https://t.co/c8e6QzoWRF

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) December 8, 2017

Shoop worked as he Nittany Lions’ defensive coordinator from 2014-15, defecting from Vanderbilt along with James Franklin. The Oakmont, PA, native left Happy Valley after the 2015 season for the defensive coordinator position at Tennessee and was replaced by Brent Pry.

Penn State sued Shoop over the summer for nearly $900,000 of liquidated damages he owes his former employer after leaving with two years remaining on his contract to join the Volunteers.

His tenure at Tennessee was not so successful; his teams allowed nearly 29 points per game during his two seasons in Knoxville. Moving to a new challenge under an exciting new head coach in Moorhead could revitalize the defensive coordinator’s career.