Mississippi State Football: 3 ideal candidates to replace Zach Arnett

After posting a 4-6 record through the first ten games of the season, including three straight losses by a combined score of 102-26, Mississippi State brass made the decision to part ways with head coach Zach Arnett on Monday morning.

Arnett had a difficult job from the get-go in Starkville. He was promoted into the role after the passing of beloved former head coach Mike Leach, conditions in which no one wants to take over.

He also had to deal with the unfortunate reality that athletic director Zac Selmon didn’t hire Arnett. When Selmon took over on January 13th of this year, it was clear that Arnett would be coaching for his job this season. The folks in power always want to handpick their guy.

Arnett did the best he could under those circumstances, but it wasn’t enough.

The final blow to his tenure came in a 51-10 loss on Saturday to Texas A&M. The Aggies fired their coach, Jimbo Fisher, the next day. After that, it felt like an inevitability that Arnett would be out. From an image perspective, if the team that won 51-10 is firing their guy, what does it say about your program if you stick with the guy who lost?

The attention now moves to the future in Starkville. Their early jump on the coaching carousel gives them an advantage. There are plenty of free agent coaches out there, and plenty more employed coaches who are looking to move up in the world.

These are the ideal candidates for the Mississippi State job.