Ole Miss’s Lane Kiffin Adds Archrival’s Ex-Coach to Rebels Coaching Staff

Moves across college football rivalries are rare, but they do happen. Hall of Fame Michigan coach Bo Schembechler, for instance, spent five years as an Ohio State assistant. Stanford coach Troy Taylor played for California from 1986-89.

Now, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin has added to that list by hiring former Mississippi State coach Zach Arnett as an analyst, according to a report published Wednesday morning by On3’s Zach Berry.

Arnett, 37, went 5-6 in parts of two years with the Bulldogs.

Hired as Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator ahead of the 2020 season, Arnett was abruptly thrust into the Bulldogs’ head coaching job when Mike Leach died in December 2022.

The former New Mexico linebacker led Mississippi State to an emotional 19-10 win over Illinois in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 2, 2023, but he went 4-6 in 2023 and was fired on Nov. 13.

Before joining the Bulldogs’ staff, Arnett worked at San Diego State from 2011-19.

The Rebels—who are expected to compete for a College Football Playoff spot in 2024—open their season Aug. 31 against Furman.