Mississippi State not retaining DC Coleman Hutzler, targeting Zach Arnett

Jeff Lebby and Mississippi State are not opting not to retain defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler, and they’re targeting a familiar face for the position. They have their eyes set on former Bulldogs defensive coordinator and head coach Zach Arnett for the position, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported.

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 might be returning to Starkville, it seems.

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.”

More recently, Zach Arnett was hired at UNLV as the program’s new defensive coordinator under coach Dan Mullen. But he abruptly left the team in April for “personal reasons.”

Despite both having deep ties in Starkville, neither Arnett nor Mullen had worked together at Mississippi State. Arnett was a hire of the late Mike Leach, joining the Bulldogs in 2020 from San Diego State. Mullen was still in the SEC at the time but with the Florida Gators. The two never faced off against one another either due to divisions within the conference.

Still, there was at least some level of familiarity between the two, and Arnett was tapped for a role on Mullen’s staff. He had other offers, too.

UNLV was not the only school coming after Zach Arnett to be its defensive coordinator this offseason. Appalachian State — which also has another recently hired head coach in Dowell Loggains — was pursuing the former Mississippi State headman as well.

Prior to taking the job at UNLV, Arnett spent one season at Ole Miss as an analyst on Lane Kiffin‘s staff. Now after returning for an analyst role at Florida State, he could be on his way back to Mississippi State if this plan comes to fruition.

— On3’s Thomas Goldkamp contributed to this article.