Mississippi State hires UConn's Matt Brock as co-defensive coordinator with Zach Arnett

Mississippi State‘s new look defensive staff continues to take shape. On Wednesday, the Bulldogs announced they have hired UConn defensive coordinator Matt Brock to serve as a co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

Brock has been at UConn for the last two seasons. The Huskies featured the nation’s No. 42 scoring defense in 2024 before dipping to No. 74 in 2025.

But there are connections for Matt Brock with the current Mississippi State coaching staff. He was on staff at Mississippi State from 2020-23. During that time, Zach Arnett served as either defensive coordinator or head coach.

The Bulldogs recently tapped Arnett for the defensive coordinator job under coach Jeff Lebby, so the two will be reunited again on the same staff. That type of synergy on the defensive staff could pay dividends, particularly as Lebby is an offensive-minded head coach.

Matt Brock also has some bona fides from his previous stint at Mississippi State. When Arnett was promoted to head coach in 2023, Brock earned a promotion to defensive coordinator.

Mississippi State was quite sound under his direction, finishing sixth in the SEC in total defense (350.6 yards per game) and fifth in passing defense (204.7 yards per game). But that staff didn’t remain in place for long.

Zach Arnett, Matt Brock hired by Bulldogs

The news that Zach Arnett was going to return to Mississippi State as Lebby’s coordinator was surprising. On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed the bombshell report that’s bound to shakeup the SEC. Arnett was Mississippi State’s head coach in 2023, and he spent this past season as an analyst for Florida State. Now, he’s returning to Starkville.

The 39-year-old took over for the late Mike Leach in late 2022. He spent only one year as the full-time coach before the Bulldogs went another direction, but he was praised by athletics director Zac Selmon for the job he did while in charge.

“Zach took on an unprecedented and challenging situation last December,” Selmon said at the time. “He provided the football program much needed leadership and stability during a tragic time. There is no question that he has made a positive impact on the lives of our student-athletes during his time here. We are grateful for his contributions to Mississippi State and wish him the very best both personally and professionally.”

On3’s Steve Samra also contributed to this report.