Jeff Lebby is preparing to make a major change on his defensive staff. Mississippi State will not retain defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler and is targeting former Bulldogs coach and defensive coordinator Zach Arnett as his replacement, according to ESPN’s Pete pThamel.
Arnett previously served as Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator from 2020-22 before taking over as head coach in late 2022 following the death of Mike Leach.
He led the program through an unprecedented transition but was dismissed after one season. Athletics director Zac Selmon praised Arnett at the time for providing leadership and stability during a tragic period.
After his firing, Arnett spent the 2024 season as an analyst at Ole Miss. He briefly accepted the defensive coordinator position at UNLV under Dan Mullen earlier this year but departed in April for personal reasons. He has been an analyst at FSU this season.
Hutzler, who oversaw the defense during Lebby’s first two seasons is the latest staff change as Mississippi State looks to reset. If finalized, Arnett’s return would mark a significant homecoming for one of the program’s most respected defensive minds.
