Clausen's responsibilities begin immediately, and according to MSU officials will focus on administrative work with Croom's staff. Under NCAA rules only two graduate assistants are allowed for on-field coaching.
For this fall those slots are held by Ryan Hollern, now in his second season assisting the offense; and Kevin Murphy, in his first year at State after coaching at Starkville High School in 2004.
Clausen was a four-year starter at Tennessee, on teams that won 37 of 51 games with one SEC Eastern Division championship and a co-title his senior year. In 2003 Clausen threw for 27 touchdowns and 2,968 yards as the Vols went 10-3.
At Tennessee he played under a staff that included three current Mississippi State aides: Bulldog assistant head coach and offensive coordinator/quarterback coach Woody McCorvey (at UT from 1998-2003), cornerbacks coach/recruiting coordinator Shane Beamer (2001-03), and assistant to the head coach Brad Pendergrass (1998-2003).
Clausen will join a football office administrative staff with coordinator of operations Rockey Felker and Pendergrass.
Clausen comes from a West Coast football family well-known around the Southeastern Conference. Two Clausens, Casey and younger brother Rick, have played quarterback in the league. And there is a third coming along as youngest boy Jimmy is already one of the nation's top-ranked triggermen out in West Lake Village, Cal. He will be a 2007 recruit.