Jeff Lebby Hired as Mississippi State Football Head Coach
Oklahoma offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jeff Lebby was named the next head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon.
The 36th head coach in program history replaces Zach Arnett, who was fired on Nov. 13 for posting an underwhelming 4-6 record during his first season.
"As we continue to invest in excellence at Mississippi State, the future of our football program is incredibly bright with the addition of Jeff Lebby at the helm," athletic director Zac Selmon said in a release. "I am confident that Jeff is the perfect leader for the next exciting chapter of Mississippi State football. He will bring an exciting brand of football, elite student-athlete development, and a winning culture to Starkville, all while doing so with high integrity. He is a dynamic recruiter who will attract an elite coaching staff and the nation's top talent.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Jeff's leadership, vision, and resilient work ethic will take this program to incredible heights. We could not be more excited to welcome Jeff, his wife Staley, and their children Kora and Kane to the Mississippi State family. It is a great time to be a Bulldog and only going to get better."
ESPN reported that sources indicated he landed a five-year deal. Lebby is the program’s fifth head coach since 2017, when Dan Mullen left for Florida.
Lebby is due to arrive at the George M. Bryan Airport in Starkville on Sunday night at 8 p.m. CT, and will be introduced at a celebration outside the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex Monday at 7:30 p.m. Both are open to fans.
"Being the head coach at Mississippi State is the opportunity of a lifetime," Lebby said in a statement. "My family and I are fired up to engrain ourselves in this community, build relationships with our players, and hit the recruiting trail. This is a special place with special people and a football program with a storied tradition. I couldn't be more thrilled to add our dynamic offensive scheme to an NFL powerhouse with a nationally regarded history of elite defensive play. I am truly honored and appreciative of Athletics Director Zac Selmon and President Dr. Mark Keenum for this special opportunity. I can't wait to lead Mississippi State football into the future, while competing in college football's premier conference. Hail State!"
Mississippi State is desperate to score some points in its future, as the Bulldogs finished the season with the lowest average points per game in the SEC. Additionally, they lost starting quarterback Will Rogers to the transfer portal on Friday.
Lebby has experience with turning offenses/well-known college football programs around. The 39-year-old has been coaching on college football sidelines since 2008, and has most recently made a big impact on the Sooners.
He was hired in December of 2021, just a few days after head coach Lincoln Riley left and current head coach Brent Venables took his position. Lebby, Venables and the rest of the Oklahoma football team struggled during the first season of the new era, finishing with a 6-7 record—the school's worst since 1998.
Despite the poor record, Oklahoma's offense had a very solid year. But some tweaking by Lebby this season has allowed quarterback Dillon Gabriel and his offense to really shine, as the Sooners' 40.8 points per game is the fourth-most in the FBS. Their 10-2 record, including a dominant win over TCU on Friday, has helped them earn back their elite reputation.
Nevertheless, this isn't the only time that Lebby has helped turn a team around in his second year coaching there. He was hired as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Ole Miss in December of 2019, and posted a 5-5 record in his first season. The next year, the Rebels finished with a 10-3.
Lebby will be challenged with the selection and development of a new quarterback and offense in Starkville, Miss., but he's proven multiple times that he can overcome those kinds of obstacles.
