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College Football Program Fires Entire Creative Team After Signing Day

Originally posted on The Spun | By Matt Hladik | Last updated Dec 5, 2024 5:48 PM ET

National Signing Day brought heartbreaking news for the creative team of one SEC program.

On Thursday, Jonathan King, Mississippi State's director of creative strategy, shared on X/Twitter that he and his entire team had been fired on Wednesday night after their duties were up. More troubling, King claims, but he and his fellow workers were not given an explanation for the decision.

"This might surprise you as much as it did me but last evening, at the completion of signing day, my team and I were let go from Mississippi State Football," King wrote. "We weren’t given an explanation, and when I asked if I could ask any questions , I was told 'I’m sorry, no.'

"It’s hard for me to post this because I feel I let down my creative team and my family. And honestly the football team and MSU fans. But I want to point out that @ROrtegon14, @bmitchell1810 & @natalie_1clark worked their tails off and this was not a reflection of their work."

It’s hard for me to post this because I feel I let down my creative team and my family. And honestly the football team and MSU fans.

But I want to point out that @ROrtegon14,@bmitchell1810 & @natalie_1clark worked their tails off and this was not a reflection of their work.
— Jonathan King (@jonathanvking) December 5, 2024

Jeff Lebby was hired as Mississippi State's head football coach in late November 2023. Three months later, King was brought on to lead the program's creative unit, receiving a substantial investment from the university to hire staff and build the team.

“If this has become an industry where fear of failure or criticism is the wind that steers the ship, then creativity and innovation will be seen as a threat,” King wrote. “And punished. When tension and pressure run high, make sure you are in a place that fully supports what you are doing.

“Creatives need to know that things are shifting. The money in college athletics is beginning to change the way you will be treated. MAKE SURE you are taking a job where you will be supported. This came as a complete shock to our team, given the circumstances of the season.”

STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 21: Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Blake Shapen (2) carries the ball down the sideline during the game between the Florida Gators and the Mississippi State Bulldogs on September 21, 2024 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Whether Mississippi State's explanation is a valid one or not--and quite frankly, we can't see how it would be--there has to be more to his story.

As of now, all we can do is say we feel for King and his entire team of creatives who were blindsided by this news.

Despite finishing dead last in the SEC with a 2-10 overall record and 0-8 mark in conference play in Lebby's first season, Mississippi State managed to sign a top-30 recruiting class on Wednesday, which included three four-star prospects, all from in-state.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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