Mississippi State promotes DC Zach Arnett to head coach to build on Mike Leach's foundation

The Mississippi State Bulldogs had to tough task of figuring out how to bring their football team together in the wake of the death of head coach Mike Leach at just 61 years old. 

Leach unexpectedly died on Monday night of complications from a massive heart attack, leaving the college football world in a state of shock and a team in Starkville, Mississippi without its leader.

Rather than name an interim and wait for a future date to hire a new head coach, the Bulldogs have decided to honor Leach's legacy and build off the foundation he left by promoting one of his assistants to full-time head coach.

Not only will defensive coordinator Zach Arnett be Mississippi State's new head coach, though, but the Bulldogs made a substantial commitment to the 36-year-old.

ESPN is reporting that Mississippi State has given Arnett a four-year deal. It hasn't been signed yet, but it is expected to be finalized soon.

"The school wants to give the players a strong leader to help them through the grieving process and give them stability," a source told ESPN. "Zach is the guy for that. Zach embodies MSU and understands it, and he's going to build on the foundation that Coach Leach set."

Perhaps just as important as having a strong leader present for No. 22 Mississippi State's bowl game matchup against Illinois is having a leader the Bulldogs can lean on heading into the future. 

The loss of Leach will weigh heavy over the program and the campus in general for years to come, but having a member of his coaching tree carrying on his legacy in Starkville could help ease that pain.

"He's been a leader in our program," a Mississippi State source told ESPN. "He's a guy that players on both sides of the ball respect. He has stepped up and led this team through this adversity, making sure that we continue to finish this season the way we started, and the way coach Leach always expected."

Arnett has been the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State since January 2020. He has been considered one of the best young coordinators in college football and has specifically made a name for himself running the 3-3-5 defense, which should be expected to remain a staple in Starkville moving forward.