Mississippi State to promote Zach Arnett to permanent head football coach

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State football is promoting defensive coordinator and interim head coach Zach Arnett to permanent head coach, a source close to the program confirmed to the Clarion Ledger.

ESPN reported Arnett will be given a four-year contract, though it hasn't been signed yet.

Arnett has been MSU's defensive coordinator since 2020 when he was hired by Mike Leach. Arnett was given the interim title on Sunday when Leach was airlifted to a Jackson hospital following a medical emergency. Leach died on Monday night after complications following a heart condition, MSU announced.

Arnett's promotion comes amidst what university president Mark Keenum referred to as a "complicated" situation for the athletic department. Along with the sudden death of Leach, Mississippi State is currently without a full-time athletics director following the departure of John Cohen for Auburn.

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Arnett joined Mississippi State after working as an assistant at San Diego State. He joined the Aztecs staff in 2011 as a graduate assistant before being promoted to linebackers coach in 2014. In 2018, he was promoted to defensive coordinator.

Arnett is a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He played linebacker for New Mexico from 2005-2008.

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State football to name Zach Arnett permanent head coach