Lane Kiffin crosses the Egg Bowl aisle with addition of Zach Arnett to Ole Miss staff
The Egg Bowl rivalry between Ole Miss and Mississippi State added a new layer on Wednesday when Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin hired former Bulldogs head coach Zach Arnett.
First reported by the Ole Miss Spirit, Kiffin then confirmed the hiring during a media availability following the first day of spring practice. Arnett will serve as an analyst.
While the two did not face off against each other this past Thanksgiving in Starkville, Kiffin is aware of Arnett’s talents and what he could add to the Ole Miss staff.
“I’ve had a lot of respect for Zach and thought they did a great job over there in Starkville during his time on defense. Caused people a lot of problems,” Kiffin said. “It shows we don’t just hire people because they were head coaches. It’s people we think are really knowledgeable in the conference and as coaches in general to add to our staff. This was a really good fit that way.”
Arnett met with Kiffin and Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding prior to his hiring and officially started on Wednesday.
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Last season was Arnett’s only one as the Mississippi State head coach and was cut short when he was fired with two weeks left in the regular season. Prior to that he served as the Bulldogs defensive coordinator under Mike Leach from 2020 to 2022.
Plenty will be made of Kiffin going across the Egg Bowl aisle, as it were, but beyond Mississippi State being the last place of employment for Arnett there is very little motivation in that regard, according to Kiffin.
“That really wasn’t the motive. The motive was this is somebody that I’ve always thought does a really unique defensive scheme and causes people a lot of problems for years over there,” Kiffin said. “Then after that, yeah, there’s knowledge of recruiting in the state. I don’t know how much of that is a big benefit. Just good to have him over here.”
Before moving to Starkville Arnett was the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator at San Diego State from 2014 to 2019. From 2011 to 2013 he was a grad assistant on the Aztecs staff.
Kiffin also hinted at another “big name” hire to the Ole Miss staff.
“That shows people wanting to come here and be a part of it,” Kiffin added.
