Report: Mississippi State bringing back Zach Arnett as DC

Field Level Media|published: 12/06/2025, 10:47am EST

Oct 7, 2023; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Zach Arnett looks on during the first quarter of the game against the Western Michigan Broncos at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-Imagn Images

Former Mississippi State head coach Zach Arnett is returning to Starkville and resuming his former role as defensive coordinator, ESPN reported Saturday.

Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lebby is parting ways with defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler after a 5-7 season, per the report.

Arnett, 39, spent the past two seasons as an analyst on the coaching staffs at Ole Miss (2024) and Florida State (2025).

Arnett was named head coach of the Bulldogs in December 2022 following the death of Mike Leach. He was fired on Nov. 13, 2023, with two games remaining in the season and a 4-6 record.

Before his promotion, Arnett was the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State for three seasons. He began his coaching career at San Diego State in 2011.

In Hutzler's second season as DC in 2025, Mississippi State finished 15th in the 16-team SEC in scoring defense (29.2 points per game) and total defense (405.8 yards per game).

--Field Level Media