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Jeff Lebby’s New Era: Unpacking The 2024 Mississippi State Football Staff And The Dramatic Defensive Shake-Up

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The Mississippi State Bulldogs football program is undergoing a massive transformation in 2024, marked by the arrival of new Head Coach Jeff Lebby and a complete overhaul of the coaching and support staff. This new regime, officially put in place following Lebby’s hiring on November 26, 2023, is focused on injecting a high-octane offensive philosophy and, most recently, returning to a familiar, hard-nosed defensive identity. As of late December 2025, the staff features a blend of SEC veterans, proven recruiters, and fresh faces, highlighted by the dramatic return of a former head coach to run the defense.

The appointment of Lebby, one of the nation's top offensive minds, signaled a clear shift in Starkville, moving away from the defensive-minded approach of the previous era. However, the most compelling and recent development has been the swift, late-season change at the Defensive Coordinator position, which has set the tone for the Bulldogs’ 2024 season preparations and solidified the core leadership of the program. The following is a deep dive into the key figures and roles shaping the future of Mississippi State football.

The 2024 Mississippi State Football Staff: Key Personnel & Biographies

The new Mississippi State staff is a comprehensive mix of offensive innovators, defensive specialists, and experienced operational leaders. Head Coach Jeff Lebby has assembled a full-time staff of 10 on-field assistants, along with crucial support personnel.

  • Head Coach: Jeff Lebby
  • Associate Head Coach for Offense / Quarterbacks: Bush Hamdan
  • Defensive Coordinator: Zach Arnett
  • Co-Defensive Coordinator / Safeties: Matt Barnes
  • Co-Defensive Coordinator: Matt Brock
  • Assistant Head Coach / Pass Game Coordinator / Running Backs: Anthony Tucker
  • Offensive Line Coach: Phil Loadholt
  • Defensive Line Coach: David Turner
  • Linebackers Coach: Vincent Dancy
  • Tight Ends Coach: Jon Cooper
  • Wide Receivers Coach: Chad Bumphis
  • Associate A.D. / Chief of Staff: David Wilczewski
  • Director of Football Operations: Joe Carter Jr.
  • Director of Career & Pro Development: Greg Knox

Jeff Lebby (Head Coach): Lebby was officially named the 35th head football coach at Mississippi State on November 26, 2023. Known for his high-powered, up-tempo offensive schemes, he previously served as the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and UCF. His coaching philosophy centers on aggressive play-calling and maximizing explosive plays, a stark contrast to the previous offensive systems in Starkville.

Zach Arnett (Defensive Coordinator): In a stunning turn of events, Arnett, who served as the Bulldogs' head coach for the majority of the 2023 season, returned to the program as Defensive Coordinator in December 2025. He had previously been the DC for the Bulldogs from 2020 to 2022. This move signals a return to the proven 3-3-5 defensive scheme that Arnett successfully ran at MSU before his brief stint as Head Coach.

Bush Hamdan (Associate Head Coach for Offense / Quarterbacks): Hamdan brings 17 years of collegiate and NFL experience to the offensive side of the ball. He is tasked with running the high-tempo offensive system alongside Lebby and developing the Bulldogs' quarterbacks. His background includes stops at Washington, Missouri, and a stint with the Atlanta Falcons.

Matt Brock (Co-Defensive Coordinator): Hired to work alongside Arnett, Brock comes to MSU after serving as the defensive coordinator at UConn. His addition provides another experienced mind in the defensive meeting room, focusing on strategy and game planning in the SEC.

The High-Octane Offensive Brain Trust

The offensive staff under Jeff Lebby is built to implement his signature "Air Raid" principles with a modern, up-tempo twist. The focus is on speed, space, and creating mismatches across the field. The collective experience of this group is a major selling point for recruits.

The Architects of the Attack

The offensive unit is led by Lebby and Bush Hamdan, but the position coaches bring significant SEC and Power Five experience:

  • Anthony Tucker (Assistant Head Coach / Running Backs): Tucker's role as Assistant Head Coach and Pass Game Coordinator highlights his importance in integrating the running backs into Lebby's passing attack. He is a key figure in both on-field coaching and overall program leadership.
  • Phil Loadholt (Offensive Line Coach): A former NFL offensive lineman, Loadholt's addition is crucial for developing the trench play necessary to run Lebby’s fast-paced offense effectively. His experience as a professional player offers a direct line of mentorship for the linemen.
  • Jon Cooper (Tight Ends Coach): Cooper's expertise is vital in an offense that often utilizes the tight end as a hybrid blocker and key receiving threat, requiring players who can execute complex assignments in space.
  • Chad Bumphis (Wide Receivers Coach): A former record-setting Mississippi State wide receiver, Bumphis provides a deep connection to the program's history and a proven ability to develop talent at the position. He is responsible for preparing the receivers for the high-volume passing attack.

The emphasis on the offensive line with two dedicated coaches (Loadholt and Cody Kennedy) and the specific role for Anthony Tucker as Pass Game Coordinator shows a commitment to both the ground game and the vertical passing attack, ensuring a balanced, albeit fast, offensive approach.

The Dramatic Defensive Overhaul: Arnett’s Return

The most significant and recent staff change was the decision to move on from one Defensive Coordinator and quickly bring back Zach Arnett. This move has been widely interpreted as a strategic decision to immediately stabilize the defense with a system and a coach that the players and fans are already familiar with.

The New Defensive Leadership Team

The defense is now a committee of proven SEC and Power Five coaches, all focused on bringing back the aggressive, turnover-forcing style of play that defined Arnett's first tenure:

  • Zach Arnett (Defensive Coordinator): Arnett’s return is a massive boost to the program's continuity on defense. His 3-3-5 scheme is well-known in Starkville, and his passion and intensity are expected to immediately re-energize the defensive unit.
  • Matt Barnes (Co-Defensive Coordinator / Safeties): Barnes, who previously served as a defensive coordinator at Memphis and a co-DC at Ohio State, brings a wealth of experience in the secondary and a background in high-level defensive game planning. His role as Co-DC alongside Arnett and Brock is key to managing the defensive strategy.
  • David Turner (Defensive Line Coach): A veteran coach with extensive SEC experience, Turner's focus is on developing the defensive front to create pressure and control the line of scrimmage, essential components of the 3-3-5 defense.
  • Vincent Dancy (Linebackers Coach): Dancy, a Mississippi native and former head coach at Jackson State, is a strong recruiter and developer of linebacking talent. His local ties and coaching experience are invaluable for the program’s recruiting efforts.

The decision to employ multiple Co-Defensive Coordinators (Arnett, Barnes, and Brock) is a modern trend in college football, distributing the massive workload of SEC defensive planning and providing specialized expertise across all three levels of the defense.

The Support Staff and Program Infrastructure

Beyond the on-field coaches, the support staff plays a critical role in the day-to-day operation, player welfare, and long-term success of the program. These individuals ensure the coaching staff can focus entirely on football.

  • David Wilczewski (Associate A.D. / Chief of Staff): Elevated to his current role by Coach Lebby, Wilczewski serves as the central hub for all administrative and operational aspects of the football program, managing logistics and strategic planning.
  • Joe Carter Jr. (Assistant Director/Football Operations): Carter Jr. is a vital part of managing team travel, practices, and the complex schedule of an SEC football program, ensuring all logistics run smoothly.
  • Greg Knox (Director of Career & Pro Development): Knox's role is increasingly important, focusing on the players' professional growth, NIL opportunities, and preparing them for life after college football, including the NFL draft process. He adds a layer of mentorship and long-term planning to the program.

The 2024 Mississippi State football staff represents a fresh start under Jeff Lebby, characterized by an aggressive offensive vision and a strategically stabilized defense led by the returning Zach Arnett. This combination of new energy and familiar defensive expertise is the foundation upon which the Bulldogs aim to build their competitive future in the Southeastern Conference.

Jeff Lebby’s New Era: Unpacking the 2024 Mississippi State Football Staff and the Dramatic Defensive Shake-Up
miss state football staff
miss state football staff

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