Mississippi State Fires Head Football Coach Zach Arnett After One Season

Arnett was fired Monday, two days after the Bulldogs' 51-16 loss to Arkansas.

The move comes after a disappointing season in which Mississippi State finished 4-6 overall and 1-6 in SEC play.

Arnett was hired in December 2022 to replace Mike Leach, who died of a heart condition in December 2022. Arnett had previously served as the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State from 2018 to 2021.

Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen said in a statement that the decision to fire Arnett was "not made lightly." Cohen said that he met with Arnett on Monday morning and informed him of the decision.

"I want to thank Zach for his dedication to Mississippi State," Cohen said. "He is a good man and a good coach, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors."

Mississippi State will now begin a search for a new head football coach. The Bulldogs have not won an SEC championship since 1941.