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Mississippi State

Jeff Lebby agrees to five-year deal to become next Mississippi State head coach, per report

Screen Shot 2024-05-28 at 9.09.17 AMby:Kaiden Smith•11/26/23•

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(Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)

After parting ways with head coach Zach Arnett on November 13, the Mississippi State Bulldogs have found their new head man. College football insider Pete Thamel reported Sunday that Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby has agreed to a five-year deal that will make him Mississippi State’s next head football coach.

The head coaching job will serve as the first of Lebby’s coaching career, serving as on offensive coordinator at places like Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and UCF throughout his career as an assistant. And shortly following Thamel’s report, Mississippi State officially announced that Lebby would be their 36th head football coach in the announcement unveiled by Bulldogs’ athletic director Zac Selmon.

“As we continue to invest in excellence at Mississippi State, the future of our football program is incredibly bright with the addition of Jeff Lebby at the helm,” Selmon said in his statement. “I am confident that Jeff is the perfect leader for the next exciting chapter of Mississippi State football. He will bring an exciting brand of football, elite student-athlete development, and a winning culture to Starkville, all while doing so with high integrity. He is a dynamic recruiter who will attract an elite coaching staff and the nation’s top talent. There is no doubt in my mind that Jeff’s leadership, vision, and resilient work ethic will take this program to incredible heights. We could not be more excited to welcome Jeff, his wife Staley, and their children Kora and Kane to the Mississippi State family. It is a great time to be a Bulldog and only going to get better.” 

Lebby has been regarded as one of the best offensive masterminds in college football, with his most recent Oklahoma offensive ending the regular season as the nation’s No. 3 scoring offense of the 2023 regular season. The Bulldogs’ offense ranked dead last in scoring in the SEC this season, an area that Lebby will look to improve amongst others upon his arrival in Starkville.

“Being the head coach at Mississippi State is the opportunity of a lifetime,” Lebby said. “My family and I are fired up to engrain ourselves in this community, build relationships with our players, and hit the recruiting trail. This is a special place with special people and a football program with a storied tradition. I couldn’t be more thrilled to add our dynamic offensive scheme to an NFL powerhouse with a nationally regarded history of elite defensive play. I am truly honored and appreciative of Athletics Director Zac Selmon and President Dr. Mark Keenum for this special opportunity. I can’t wait to lead Mississippi State football into the future, while competing in college football’s premier conference. Hail State!”

Lebby has proven he can build a successful offense, but Mississippi State will now be looking to him to build an elite program ahead of a 2024 football season highlighted by changes in the SEC and beyond across college football.