Mississippi State has made the decision to part ways with head coach Zach Arnett before the conclusion of his first season. This comes after the Bulldogs fell to 4-6 following a 51-10 loss to Texas A&M on Saturday, marking the team’s third consecutive loss with a 1-6 record in SEC play this season.
Arnett, who was previously MSU’s defensive coordinator for three seasons and led the Bulldogs to a win over Illinois in the ReliaQuest Bowl, was terminated less than a year after being promoted to head coach. Greg Knox, a senior offensive analyst for the Bulldogs, will serve as interim coach for the remainder of the season.
Mississippi State president Mark Keenum announced, “I have every confidence that Zac will move quickly to identify a new leader for our football program who will energize our team, our students and our loyal and enthusiastic fan base.”
The Bulldogs will face Southern Miss and Ole Miss in their upcoming games, followed by the annual Egg Bowl rivalry. If MSU can win those games, it will mark the 14th consecutive season of bowl eligibility for the program.
Who could be next at Mississippi State?
Arnett’s dismissal follows those of Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher and Boise State’s Andy Avalos, leading to speculation on who could be the next coach for Mississippi State. Names like Jamey Chadwell, Lance Leipold, Willie Fritz, Tom Herman, Jon Sumrall, Jeff Lebby, and Rhett Lashlee are being suggested as potential targets.
MSU has seen a few coaching changes since Dan Mullen’s departure in 2017, and with the recent exit of Arnett following the sudden death of Mike Leach, the program may soon have a new leader at its helm.
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