Florida State University Athletics
Staff Directory
Arnett, Zach
Zach Arnett
- Title:
- Senior Analyst (Defense)
Former Mississippi State head coach Zach Arnett is in his first season as a senior defensive analyst at Florida State after being hired prior to the 2025 season.
Arnett spent the 2024 season as an analyst at Ole Miss after serving as Mississippi State’s head coach for the 2023 season. Arnett was elevated from defensive coordinator to head coach for the Bulldogs’ 2022 ReliaQuest Bowl win over Illinois following the sudden death of head coach Mike Leach.
As defensive coordinator from 2020-22, Arnett was a two-time nominee for the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach. A year after the Bulldogs finished 11th in the SEC in total defense, Arnett improved Mississippi State’s defense to fifth in 2020 with 389.7 yards allowed per game and third in rushing touchdowns allowed with 11.
Seven Mississippi State defenders were drafted between 2021-24, including first round defensive back Emmanuel Forbes in 2023. Forbes was one of three Bulldog All-Americans under Arnett.
Prior to Mississippi State, Arnett spent nine seasons at San Diego State, including the final two as defensive coordinator in 2018 and 2019. In 2019, the Aztecs defense ranked second nationally in rushing defense, third in scoring defense, fourth in interceptions, fourth in first downs allowed, sixth in total defense and eighth in takeaways.
Before being named defensive coordinator, Arnett was an Aztec graduate assistant from 2011-13 and linebackers coach from 2014-17. The Aztecs won three Mountain West Conference championships and played in a bowl game each season under Arnett.
Arnett played linebacker for New Mexico from 2005-08, where he was a four-time Academic All-MW selection and a 2008 CoSIDA All-America First Team member. Arnett led FBS with six forced fumbles as a captain in 2008 and amassed 200 tackles in his career.
Arnett graduated from UNM with a degree in history. Arnett and his wife, Emily, have two children, Case and Collins.
Arnett spent the 2024 season as an analyst at Ole Miss after serving as Mississippi State’s head coach for the 2023 season. Arnett was elevated from defensive coordinator to head coach for the Bulldogs’ 2022 ReliaQuest Bowl win over Illinois following the sudden death of head coach Mike Leach.
As defensive coordinator from 2020-22, Arnett was a two-time nominee for the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach. A year after the Bulldogs finished 11th in the SEC in total defense, Arnett improved Mississippi State’s defense to fifth in 2020 with 389.7 yards allowed per game and third in rushing touchdowns allowed with 11.
Seven Mississippi State defenders were drafted between 2021-24, including first round defensive back Emmanuel Forbes in 2023. Forbes was one of three Bulldog All-Americans under Arnett.
Prior to Mississippi State, Arnett spent nine seasons at San Diego State, including the final two as defensive coordinator in 2018 and 2019. In 2019, the Aztecs defense ranked second nationally in rushing defense, third in scoring defense, fourth in interceptions, fourth in first downs allowed, sixth in total defense and eighth in takeaways.
Before being named defensive coordinator, Arnett was an Aztec graduate assistant from 2011-13 and linebackers coach from 2014-17. The Aztecs won three Mountain West Conference championships and played in a bowl game each season under Arnett.
Arnett played linebacker for New Mexico from 2005-08, where he was a four-time Academic All-MW selection and a 2008 CoSIDA All-America First Team member. Arnett led FBS with six forced fumbles as a captain in 2008 and amassed 200 tackles in his career.
Arnett graduated from UNM with a degree in history. Arnett and his wife, Emily, have two children, Case and Collins.
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