Zach Arnett

Mississippi State football isn't just promoting Zach Arnett to head coach. It has potential to honor Mike Leach's legacy and grow his coaching tree.

Could “Zach Arnett, Mississippi State” be the next star next to Leach’s name? “Like 'Bear' Bryant said, if they don't know something that you don't, you don't need them.” If Arnett elects to promote one of them to offensive coordinator, the Air Raid will be in full force in 2023. and Drew Hollingshead, who were on his staff at Washington State, were heavily involved with the offense in practices and on the sidelines. The timeline of conducting a national search for Leach’s replacement was going to be rocky. Hard to see why not. He ran operations his way, but he gave his assistants – especially those on the defensive side – plenty of autonomy. Mississippi State first needs to hire a replacement for John Cohen as athletics director. Leach spent nearly two decades as a head coach and only changed programs after being fired for off-field circumstances at Texas Tech. The pirate ship sitting in the north end zone of the stadium would look over the Bulldogs — a fitting homage to the beloved college football personality. That doesn’t equal stability, and if Keenum has proven one thing over the last three football seasons, it’s that MSU doesn’t like to sail unstable waters. Pirates play on](https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2022/12/14/mike-leach-death-mississippi-state-football-bowl-game-zach-arnett/69712839007/)

The SEC's newly anointed youngest head coach has had a sudden rise after Mike Leach's death, but Mississippi State is confident he can handle the job.

Arnett is believed to be the first SEC coach of Hispanic descent. In fact, when news emerged Wednesday that he’d be promoted to the full-time head coach, he was out recruiting. You get guys in here not from the South and the SEC and they don’t understand Mississippi recruiting. Long had a role in Arnett’s hiring at Mississippi State. Arnett was a four-time academic all-conference honoree at New Mexico and recorded more than 200 tackles his senior season. Arnett was set to make $1.2 million per year on a contract that was extended over the summer through the 2024 season. He coached under Long as a graduate assistant, position coach and finally coordinator over Long’s nine-year tenure at San Diego State. Arnett is the same age, when hired, as a former Mississippi State coach: Dan Mullen. According to 247Sports, it was the longest contract ever given to a coordinator at the school. He died Monday night in a Officials have spent the last 24 hours in serious discussion about how promoting Arnett would stabilize the program in a time of grief, a week before signing day and amid the transfer portal madness. “Me and [assistant] Mason Miller shot pool and threw darts waiting on him to get off the phone!”

Arnett was elevated to interim head coach of the Bulldogs after Mike Leach was hospitalized Sunday. · Arnett was the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at ...

Leach [died Monday at age 61](https://theathletic.com/3992680/2022/12/13/mike-leach-college-football-obituary/)following complications from a heart condition. During the 2019 season, San Diego State ranked fifth in the nation in total defense (287.8 yards per game). He was promoted to the Aztecs’ linebackers coach from 2014 to 2017 before becoming the defensive coordinator from 2018 to 2019.

Zach Arnett will be promoted to full-time head football coach at Mississippi State after serving as the program's defensive coordinator for the past three ...

Arnett will try and follow in that mold of those three from last season and become the latest young defensive coordinator to thrive in a head coaching opportunity. Arnett's defensive units at Mississippi State haven't been quite so statistically impressive, but that's partially because of the offensive system the Bulldogs ran under Leach. While he may have still been a few years away from landing a big-time head coaching opportunity under normal circumstances, he's established himself as one of the brightest young defensive minds in the sport. 6 in the AP Top 25 this season after serving as Georgia's defensive coordinator for three seasons. With the program also in search of its next athletic director following the departure of John Cohen for [Auburn](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/AUBURN/auburn-tigers/), Mississippi State was in no position to conduct a coaching search, especially with early National Signing Day approaching next week. The Air Raid isn't always the most attractive scheme for defensive coordinators to work under because of the pressure that quick three-and-outs can put on the defense. 5 in total defense and No. Arnett is among the nation's most highly respected defensive minds and came to Starkville, Mississippi, after nine years on staff at [San Diego State](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/SDGST/san-diego-state-aztecs/). Arnett, 36, has never served a head coach before and will be under a baptism by fire in the SEC. The loss of an active Power Five coach is unprecedented in the modern era of the game, and mourning Leach's loss will be a process for everyone. Having a familiar face in Arnett around should help stabilize the team during a tumultuous time. With the transfer portal open and members of the Bulldogs' recruiting class likely seeking answers amid Leach's unexpected death, promoting from within made sense.

Arnett has been MSU's defensive coordinator since 2020, when he was hired by Mike Leach. Arnett was given the interim title Sunday when Leach was airlifted to a ...

[Mike Leach](https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2022/12/13/mike-leach-death-mississippi-state-football-recruiting-class-2022/69724405007/). [Leach died on Monday night](https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2022/12/13/mike-leach-death-update-mississippi-state-football-coach-heart-attack/69719742007/) after complications stemming from a heart condition, MSU announced. If he elects to remain in-house for an offensive coordinator, receivers coaches Steve Spurrier Jr. Mississippi State (8-4, 4-4 SEC) will play in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. Key pieces to the defense such as linebackers Nathaniel Watson and Jett Johnson, along with defensive linemen Jaden Crumedy and Jordan Davis, have announced their intent to return next year. Along with the sudden death of Leach, Mississippi State is currently without a full-time athletics director following the departure of John Cohen for Auburn at the end of October.

Zach Arnett, a proven leader for the Mississippi State football program throughout his tenure in Starkville, has been named the Bulldogs' 35th head football ...

A native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Arnett attended La Cueva High School, where he was a two-sport athlete in football and baseball. In his first year in Starkville, taking over a defense that featured an astounding 11 first-time starters, Arnett's group ranked fifth in total defense (389.7) after ranking 11th the season prior to his arrival. Prior to MSU, Arnett spent the previous nine seasons at San Diego State under the mentorship of one of the game's great defensive minds in former Aztecs head coach Rocky Long. He is a tremendous, young coach who understands the culture of Mississippi State and will continue to elevate it in this new role." "This is an incredibly difficult time for everyone at Mississippi State, especially for our football student-athletes and staff," Brett said. He brings great drive and intensity to the task."

Mississippi State is promoting defensive coordinator Zach Arnett to head coach after the death of Mike Leach, according to multiple reports on Wednesday ...

Overall, he went 158-107 in 21 seasons at Texas Tech (2000-09), Washington State (2012-19) and with the Bulldogs. Arnett was a graduate assistant for three seasons and linebackers coach for the next six, doubling up as defensive coordinator in 2018-19. Leach was in his third season at Mississippi State with a record of 19-17.

Mississippi State has announced it named Zach Arnett as head coach of the Bulldogs football program after the tragic death of Mike Leach.

[Bookmark](https://si.com/fannation/college/cfb-hq) [Top 25 Rankings](https://www.si.com/college-football/rankings) [Rankings](https://www.si.com/fannation/college/cfb-hq/ncaa-football-rankings) [All Teams](https://www.si.com/college/college-football/teams) "No one can ever replace Coach Leach and the impact he had on MSU and all of college football. [Schedule](https://www.si.com/college-football/schedule)

Arnett previously served as the program's defensive coordinator for the past three seasons until the sudden death of coach Mike Leach. Arnett is among the ...

Arnett will try and follow in that mold of those three from last season and become the latest young defensive coordinator to thrive in a head coaching opportunity. While he may have still been a few years away from landing a big-time head coaching opportunity under normal circumstances, he's established himself as one of the brightest young defensive minds in the sport. 6 in the AP Top 25 this season after serving as Georgia's defensive coordinator for three seasons. The loss of an active Power Five coach is unprecedented in the modern era of the game, and mourning Leach's loss will be a process for everyone. With the program also in search of its next athletic director following the departure of John Cohen for [Auburn](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/AUBURN/auburn-tigers/), Mississippi State was in no position to conduct a coaching search, especially with early National Signing Day approaching next week. Having a familiar face in Arnett around should help stabilize the team during a tumultuous time. I have tremendous confidence in Zach Arnett's leadership and believe he is uniquely positioned to continue the progress Coach Leach brought to our program. He has been a pillar of support for everyone within the program through this difficult time and during his time in Starkville. He brings great drive and intensity to the task." Arnett, 36, has never served a head coach before and will be under a baptism by fire in the SEC. He is a tremendous, young coach who understands the culture of Mississippi State and will continue to elevate it in this new role." [Mississippi State](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/MISSST/mississippi-state-bulldogs/), the university announced Thursday.