Report: Jeff Lebby to hire Jon Cooper, Matt Holecek to Mississippi State staff

It didn’t take long for newly hired Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby to start building his staff. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Wednesday that Lebby will bring on Oklahoma offensive analyst Matt Holecek and North Texas offensive line coach Jon Cooper.

Holecek spent the past four seasons working with Lebby both at Oklahoma and Ole Miss. He has served an analyst and assistant quarterbacks coach in that span, following Lebby to Norman when he accepted the job as the Sooners’ OC in 2022. His familiarity with Lebby’s offense will certainly be a plus as he joins the Bulldogs’ staff.

Cooper first crossed paths with Lebby as the tight ends coach at UCF from 2018-19. Lebby was then the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for the Knights. Cooper later reunited with Lebby as an offensive analyst at Oklahoma in 2022 before taking the job at North Texas. He also bring experience as a tight ends coach at Arkansas (2020) and offensive line coach at Western Carolina (2021).

It’s unclear at this point what roles Holecek and Cooper will play on Jeff Lebby’s staff. Holecek was recognized by On3 as one of 65 rising support staff coaches ahead of the 2022 season.

Lebby is set to enter his first head coaching job, and is just in the beginning stages of putting together his staff. Having two guys who he is familiar with already will certainly help ease his transition.

That’s not the only move that Lebby made this week in regards to building his new staff, however.

Jeff Lebby to retain defensive line coach David Turner

Mississippi State will reportedly retain defensive line coach David Turner, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.

“Source: Mississippi State is retaining defensive line coach David Turner under new coach Jeff Lebby,” Rittenberg wrote on Twitter. “Turner is on his third stint at Mississippi State and has significant SEC/Power 5 experience from Florida, Kentucky and other stops.”

The Bulldogs just hired new head coach Jeff Lebby, who spent the last two seasons as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator.

Turner led the Bulldogs’ unit from 2007-09 and again from 2013-15. He spent last season at Georgia Tech as the team’s assistant head coach and defensive run game coordinator.

In addition to Florida (2019-21) and Kentucky (2010-12), he also had stops at Texas A&M (2016-17), Alabama (2006), Vanderbilt (2002-05), Minnesota (2001), Virginia (1997-2000), NC State (1995-96) and a first stint at Kentucky (1993-94).