New head coach Jeff Lebby has made his first move for his Mississippi State football staff, retaining wide receiver assistant Chad Bumphis on Tuesday. Bumphis announced the decision on social media.
"Thank you to [Jeff Lebby] for keeping me home," Bumphis wrote. "Now Let’s go bust the clock!!! Score fast and Score often. Receivers… you want the rock, come get it!!"
Bumphis was originally hired back in January under head coach Zac Arnett. After Arnett was fired on Nov. 13, there were questions over who would be kept under the new coaching transition, but as Lebby starts to put his staff together, Bumphis apparently isn't going anywhere.
A native of Tupelo, Miss, Bumphis was a receiver himself at Mississippi State, where he played from 2009 to 2012. He holds the school record for receiving touchdowns (24), and ranks second in school history in both career receiving yards (2,270) and receptions (159).
After his playing days, he went into coaching, which featured stints at Iowa Wesleyan, Buffalo, Austin Peay, and Utah before being hired at Mississippi State, reuniting him with his former team, this time on the sideline.
Bumphis' status with the program has also helped in recruiting. The Bulldogs have landed a commitment from 4-star receiver JJ Harrell. They also landed a commitment from 4-star receiver Braylon Burnside before announcing his decommittment on Nov. 6. With Lebby in charge of the program the Bulldogs could potentially find themselves back in the mix.
More moves are expected soon as the early signing period for football is coming up in late December.
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