Mississippi State Fires Head Coach Zach Arnett After One Season
Former Defensive Coordinator Led Bulldogs to 5-6 Record in 2023
Arnett Was the Second-Youngest Head Coach in Power 5 Conference
Mississippi State University has fired head football coach Zach Arnett after just one season, the school announced on Monday. Arnett had a 5-6 record in his first full season as head coach, including a 4-6 mark in SEC play.
Arnett, 37, was promoted to head coach in December 2022 following the tragic death of Mike Leach. He had previously served as the Bulldogs' defensive coordinator and linebackers coach since 2020.
Despite his limited experience as a head coach, Arnett led Mississippi State to a victory in the ReliaQuest Bowl last season. However, the Bulldogs struggled this season, losing their last five games.
Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen said in a statement that the decision to fire Arnett was made after a "thorough evaluation of the program." He thanked Arnett for his contributions to the university and wished him well in the future.
Arnett is the second head coach to be fired at Mississippi State in the past year. Joe Moorhead was fired in 2020 after three seasons.
Mississippi State is now searching for its third head coach in three years. The Bulldogs are expected to hire a new coach by the end of the year.
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