Mississippi State football fires DC Coleman Hutzler, could rehire Zach Arnett, per report
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STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football has fired defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Coleman Hutzler, and the Bulldogs are expected to target former coach and defensive coordinator Zach Arnett as his replacement, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Dec. 6.
Hutzler was in his second season at Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs finished 5-7 and the season ended on Nov. 28 in a 38-19 loss to Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl.
The early signing period covering three days ended Dec. 5.
Hutzler was hired by MSU coach Jeff Lebby before the 2024 season, but his defense has been statistically at or near the bottom in the SEC in both seasons. The 2024 defense was last in the SEC with 34.1 points allowed per game, nearly 10 points worse than the next worst team. MSU’s 2025 defense was slightly better but still at the bottom of the SEC.
Arnett was an analyst at Florida State in 2025.
Hutzler’s contract was set to expire after the 2026 season.
Mississippi State’s defense under Coleman Hutzler
The Bulldogs struggled badly defending the run in 2024. They allowed 216.9 rushing yards per game, the fifth most in the country. The pass rush wasn’t good either with just 10 total sacks on the season. Oregon State was the only team with fewer sacks than Mississippi State.
MSU prioritized upgrading its defensive front in 2025, and the early returns were positive. Will Whitson, a Coastal Carolina transfer, was a disruptive pass rusher until he suffered a season-ending injury in the first half of the Week 2 game against Arizona State. Despite the injury, Whitson was still tied for second on the team by the end of the regular season with two sacks.
The MSU defense particularly struggled in the last month of the season with the run defense as the root. The last five opponents all scored at least 35 points.
The Bulldogs were 15th in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing 29.2 points per game, and last in rushing defense with 189.5 rushing yards per game.
Coleman Hutzler buyout, contract details
Hutzler signed a three-year contract worth $1 million annually as the highest-paid assistant coach on MSU’s staff. It was set to expire in January 2027.
Mississippi State must pay him his remaining salary as if it were to naturally expire. Payments will be made in equal monthly installments. His contract does have a duty to mitigate clause.
What to know about Zach Arnett
Arnett was the defensive coordinator at MSU from 2020-22 under coach Mike Leach. Then when Leach died in December 2022, Arnett was promoted as the head coach, only to be fired 10 games into the 2023 season.
The Bulldogs had the No. 6 scoring defense in the SEC in 2020, No. 9 in 2021 and No. 7 in 2022.
Arnett was an analyst at Ole Miss in 2024 after he was fired by MSU.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State fires Coleman Hutzler, may rehire Zach Arnett, report
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