STARKVILLE, Miss. (WJTV) – Mississippi State has hired Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby as the football team’s next head coach. He is the 36th head football coach in Mississippi State history.

Lebby will replace Zach Arnett, who was fired on November 13 after the Bulldogs’ loss to Texas A&M. Arnett was named the head coach after the death of coach Mike Leach shortly after the 2022 regular season.

Lebby is set to arrive at George M. Bryan Airport in Starkville on Sunday, November 26 at 8 p.m. CT. Fans are encouraged to attend and welcome the Lebby family to Starkville. He will be introduced at a celebration Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. CT outside the Leo Seal Jr. Football Complex. The event is open to the public and will be followed by a press conference for the media inside of the Seal Complex.

“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 was the offensive coordinator at Mississippi State’s rival Ole Miss under coach Lane Kiffin from 2020 to 2021.

This news comes as Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal. CBS Sports reported Rogers will enter the portal, which opens on December 4. The quarterback missed the majority of the Bulldogs’ 2023 season due to an injury.