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Odom, Mullen, Huff, and Other Top Candidates to Replace Zach Arnett at Mississippi State

Mike Huesmann looks at five candidates to replace Zach Arnett at Mississippi State.

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By Mike Huesmann

You have to feel for Zach Arnett a little bit. He was in a situation he probably should have never been in. Arnett had been rising up the coaching ranks and his time to be a head coach would eventually come. It did, but not in the tragic way that unfolded. I preached last year that State should have named him interim for the season, not get bogged down in an unnecessary long-term contract. 

This next hire for the Bulldogs is critical. Leach had a good thing going but the program has lagged behind their SEC counterparts in the transfer portal and NIL offerings. Adapt or be left behind will need to be the mantra going forward. Here are five guys I could see the Bulldogs hiring.

Barry Odom, UNLV Head Coach

Odom is leading a resurgence in Las Vegas, a place where few have been able to win games. The Rebels are 8-2 and have a good shot to play for the MWC title later this month. He had an average stint at Missouri, which was surrounded by much turmoil that was not his doing. The job he is doing this year will dispel all notions about his ability, though. One roadblock to this hire could be the availability of the Arkansas job. Odom was recently the Razorback DC and I feel like he’d prefer that job to this one, most would at this point.

Dan Mullen, Former Florida and Mississippi State Head Coach

Could we see Mullen return to StarkVegas? I think it’s a possibility, though I have mixed feelings about it. Mullen was a poor recruiter, this could kill him in the NIL and transfer portal era, where State is already behind in the conference. However, he is a brilliant X’s and O’s coach who has elevated lesser talent to being competitive in many situations. If he wants to coach again I think he gets a look here.

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Charles Huff, Marshall

Another former Mississippi State assistant coach. Huff is in his 3rd season at Marshall. In his first two seasons, the Herd went to a bowl game and after this past weekend’s win, they are a single win away from a third in a row. Huff is also a former Nick Saban assistant who has adapted well to the portal era. If the Herd can end the season on a positive note, especially after five consecutive losses at one point, Huff will prime himself for a P5 job.

Manny Diaz, Penn State Defensive Coordinator

Diaz struggled in his three years as Miami’s head coach, but many before and after him have done that as well. Diaz is a former DC at Mississippi State over two stints, both under Mullen. He has led top-notch defenses for Penn State and looks to have set himself up for another head coaching job. He may not get an SEC job, but the connections and history here will make him a name who’s in the fold.

Jon Sumrall, Troy

The former Kentucky and Ole Miss assistant has barely put a foot wrong in two seasons for Troy. 12-2 last year with a bowl win and 8-2 so far in 2023 with the Trojans possessing an elite defense. His staff is also vastly experienced at the P5 level. With no previous ties to Troy, I would not imagine this is Sumrall’s destination job. His defensive prowess and SEC experience will be enticing for the Bulldogs. 

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