The Arizona Cardinals have lost the first of their defensive coaching staff as assistant defensive backs coach DeShea Townsend will be getting a promotion, but not in the NFL. Townsend is heading to Mississippi State University to be the defensive backs coach.

Townsend joined the defensive staff when Ray Horton was hired as defensive coordinator. It was his first coaching job. He had just retired as a player after 13 years in the league playing defensive back. He played most of them for the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he knew Horton because Horton was his defensive backs coach there.

The Clarion-Ledger reported it and Townsend himself confirmed it with a tweet. Mississippi State are the Bulldogs (or Dawgs)

Go Dawgs!!!! It's Official!!!

— Deshea Townsend (@desheatownsend) January 11, 2013

On Twitter, several of the defensive players wished him well, but the one who was most notable was safety Rashad Johnson. Townsend all but assured Johnson the opportunity to coach with him once his playing days are done. Johnson hopes to play more than the 13 that Townsend played in the league.

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