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Pete ThamelESPN
Mississippi State has agreed to terms to promote defensive coordinator Zach Arnett to head coach, sources told ESPN Wednesday. He will replace Mike Leach, who died on Monday night.
Arnett has agreed to a four-year deal that has not yet been signed but is expected to be finalized in the coming days, sources said.
The move was made quickly after Leach’s death as a way to stabilize the program and maintain momentum on the field after Mississippi State finished 8–4 this season.
“The school wants to give the players a strong leader to help them through the grieving process and give them stability,” a source told ESPN. “Zach is the guy for this. Zach embodies MSU and understands it, and he’s going to build on the foundation that Coach Leach laid.”
Arnett spent three seasons as Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator, bringing a successful 3-3-5 scheme that proved difficult to match in the SEC. The unit finished 39th nationally in total defense this year, an impressive number considering how the state’s offense-centric program is executing Leach’s famous Air Raid attack.
Arnett enjoyed immediate success in his first two seasons at Starkville, as his aggressive defense finished in the top five in the SEC in total defense both years. He remained loyal to Leach and the state of Mississippi when wealthier schools courted him in later seasons, a loyalty that was reciprocated.
Arnett’s leadership through the wave of emotions that came with Leach’s hospitalization and death was also impressive. His message to the team was consistent with maintaining the standard that Leach set for the program.
State will play Illinois in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 2, which will mark Arnett’s debut as head coach.
“He has been a leader on our show,” said a source. “He’s a guy that players on both sides of the ball respect. He has stepped up and led this team through this adversity, ensuring that we continue to finish this season the way we started it and the way Coach Leach always hoped.”
This continuity is expected to allow Mississippi State to keep together a strong core of players who have shone on defense this year. The program’s two main supporters, Nathaniel Watson and Jett Johnson, have said they will return to school. Watson was the SEC’s top tackler (108).
Starting forwards Jaden Crumedy, Jordan Davis and Nathan Pickering have also publicly stated that they will return next year. That should give Arnett a seasoned corps of talented returners and help them maintain a strong defensive identity for the season ahead.
Arnett also proved to be a strong defensive recruit as Miami transfer Khamauri Rogers committed to MSU on Wednesday.
Arnett was a graduate of New Mexico, where he originally committed to playing baseball before earning a football scholarship and starring in their 3-3-5 defense. He trained under Rocky Long, the modern godfather of 3-3-5 defense at San Diego State, starting as a graduate assistant there and rising to assistant coach and eventually defensive coordinator.
In addition to her schematic background, Arnett won the state job because of her presence on the show. That leadership was especially needed this week.
“The way he addressed the team was unbelievable,” said a source, referring to the meeting to announce that Leach had been taken to hospital. “The way he introduced himself, it was like you were listening to the coach speak to his team. He reminded everyone of all the things we’ve been through and what Coach Leach has always demanded and expected. He shares those same expectations.”
Also on Wednesday, the state of Mississippi announced that it will hold a public memorial service on Tuesday in honor of Leach’s life at the Humphrey Coliseum.