Zach Arnett calls addition of Chad Bumphis "a key priority"

On Wednesday afternoon, the Mississippi State Bulldogs made the news official that they were hiring one of their former stars. Earlier in the day, there were multiple reports that Mississippi State was targeting Chad Bumphis to join their football coaching staff. It turns out they got their guy and the former record-setting Bulldogs’ wide receiver is heading back to Starkville as the team’s wide receiver coach. He spent the last two seasons with the Utah Utes coaching staff–guiding them to back-to-back Pac-12 championships and two Rose Bowl appearances.

When the news becoming official of Bumphis joining the Bulldogs’ staff on Thursday, the team issued a press release with Mississippi State head coach Zach Arnett gave his thoughts on the new addition. “Bringing Chad Bumphis back home to Mississippi State has been a key priority for us,” Arnett said. “His reputation and relationships in this state are unparalleled. He had a legendary career here as a player and has done a terrific job at each of his coaching stops. He brings experience, knowledge, and familiarity with Mississippi State, and we are proud to welcome him back to Starkville.”

Bumphis posted a goodbye message to the Utah football program on his Twitter page on Wednesday evening, and the Utes’ Twitter account also issued a goodbye message to him wishing him the best of luck.

He expressed his excitement to join the coaching staff in Starkville. “I’m fired up to be home!,” Bumphis said. “My wife Nataly, my son Ace, and I couldn’t be happier. I started coaching to specifically take this job. This is home and I’m fired up to get to work. Thank you to Coach Arnett for giving me this opportunity and bringing us home. This place is special and I’m ready to get to work.”

Bumphis enjoyed a prolific career when he was a receiver for Mississippi State from 2009-2012. He holds the school record for touchdowns (24) and also ranks second in career receiving yards (2,270 yards) and catches (159). Bumphis earned freshman All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches in 2009 and also earned second-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press in 2012 when he was a senior.