Mississippi State’s Latest Move: Hiring Jeff Lebby as Head Coach

Oklahoma offensive coordinator, Jeff Lebby, has been named the new head coach at Mississippi State, announced by the school on Sunday.

Known for high-tempo and prolific offenses, Lebby has previously served as offensive coordinator at OU, Ole Miss, and UCF. Since 2019, he has been the coordinator of an offense that has scored 50 or more points 14 times, leading all active offensive coordinators.

According to ESPN sources, Lebby has agreed to a five-year deal to replace Zach Arnett, who lasted less than a year as MSU’s coach. Arnett was hired following the passing of Mike Leach.

“I am confident that Jeff is the perfect leader for the next exciting chapter of Mississippi State football,” said athletic director Zac Selmon in a statement. “He will bring an exciting brand of football, elite student-athlete development, and a winning culture to Starkville, all while doing so with high integrity.”

Lebby, who will be the fifth full-time head coach at Mississippi State since Dan Mullen’s departure after the 2017 season, previously worked at Baylor from 2008 to 2016. He has adopted tenets from Art Briles’ offense and has also worked with prolific offensive minds such as Josh Heupel and Lane Kiffin.

In 2023, Oklahoma’s offense ranks in the Top 6 nationally in total offense, scoring offense, and passing offense. Mississippi State, known for its challenging environment in the SEC, faces the tough competition of schools like Alabama, LSU, and Texas A&M.

“Being the head coach at Mississippi State is the opportunity of a lifetime,” Lebby said. “My family and I are fired up to engrain ourselves in this community, build relationships with our players, and hit the recruiting trail. This is a special place with special people and a football program with a storied tradition.”