Mississippi State hires DC Zach Arnett to replace Leach

By RALPH D. RUSSO
AP College Football Writer

No. 24 Mississippi State is promoting defensive coordinator Zach Arnett to head coach to replace Mike Leach, who died suddenly of a heart condition earlier this week. The hiring was announced Thursday. A person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press that Mississippi State was working to finalize a four-year contract with the 36-year-old Arnett. Leach died Monday night at the age of 61. Arnett has been Leach’s defensive coordinator since he took the head coaching job at Mississippi State in 2020.