Mississippi State Fires Head Coach Zach Arnett After Less Than One Season
Former Defensive Coordinator Was Named Interim Head Coach in December 2022
Arnett Led Bulldogs to 3-9 Record in 2023
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State has fired head football coach Zach Arnett after less than one season, the school announced Monday.
Arnett, 36, was named interim head coach in December 2022 after Mike Leach died of complications from a heart condition. Arnett was Mississippi State's defensive coordinator under Leach, and he had been with the program since 2020.
As interim head coach, Arnett led the Bulldogs to a 3-9 record in 2023. The Bulldogs started the season 2-0, but they lost their final nine games.
Mississippi State athletic director Zac Selmon said in a statement that the school "appreciates Coach Arnett's contributions to our football program, both as an assistant coach and as our interim head coach."
Selmon said the school will begin a national search for a new head coach immediately.
Arnett's firing comes as a bit of a surprise, as he was considered to be a rising star in the coaching ranks. He was named one of the top 25 coaches under the age of 40 by 247Sports in 2022.
However, Mississippi State's disappointing 2023 season may have led to Arnett's dismissal. The Bulldogs were one of the worst teams in the SEC this season, and they finished with their worst record since 2009.
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