Arnett Rounds Out Coaching Staff

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State head football coach Zach Arnett completed the Bulldogs' 2023 on-field coaching staff on Friday.

Arnett rounded out his first staff in Starkville with the hiring of Mike Schmidt as tight ends and tackles coach/run game coordinator and the promotion of Brett Dewhurst to safeties coach.

Arnett also announced that longtime Bulldog assistant and associate head coach Tony Hughes will transition back to the offensive side of the ball as running backs coach.

Jason Washington, who coached the Bulldogs safeties from 2020-21 and running backs during the 2022 season, has agreed to shift roles to director of player development. Washington has been an integral part of the Bulldogs' success and asset to the team and staff in recent years.

Additionally, SEC veteran coach Greg Knox will return to Starkville for his second stint with the Bulldogs as senior offensive analyst.

Mississippi State's completed on-field coaching staff includes:

Kevin Barbay (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
Matt Brock (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
Tony Hughes (Associate Head Coach/Running Backs)
Chad Bumphis (Wide Receivers)
Brett Dewhurst (Safeties)
Will Friend (Offensive Line)
Darcel McBath (Cornerbacks)
Eric Mele (Special Teams Coordinator)
Mike Schmidt (Tight Ends & Tackles/Run Game Coordinator)
David Turner (Defensive Line)

Dewhurst, who was a four-year defensive back at Texas Tech from 2008-11, spent last season at MSU as one of Arnett's right-hand staffers in the senior defensive analyst role, primarily focusing on the safeties position group.

Prior to joining MSU's staff, he was the defensive backs coach at Texas State for three seasons. Dewhurst's 2020 unit accounted for 11 turnovers with seven interceptions, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.

Dewhurst served as the safeties coach at Texas Tech in 2018 after one year at Southeastern Louisiana as defensive backs coach. Before that, he spent four seasons as a defensive quality control assistant – two at Texas Tech (2015-16) and two at Houston (2013-14). While he was on Houston's coaching staff, the Cougars were among the best defenses in the country. Houston led the FBS in both turnovers forced (43) and turnover margin (plus-25) and was the third-most improved team nationally for scoring defense after allowing just 21.8 points per game during Dewhurst's first season in 2013.

Schmidt comes to Starkville after two seasons at Syracuse (offensive line coach/run game coordinator) and nine seasons at San Diego State (offensive line coach).

Schmidt's unit paved the way for Syracuse to lead the ACC and rank No. 17 nationally in rushing yards per game (213.5) in 2021, before clearing paths for a All-American Sean Tucker who turned in a 1,000-yard rushing season in 2022. Schmidt's units at San Diego State blocked for some of the nation's top rushing attacks. Across his nine seasons there, San Diego State ranked No. 15 nationally in yards per carry (5.0), No. 15 in rushing yards per game (216.9) and tied for No. 21 nationally in touchdowns (201). He also mentored 15 all-conference performers and six NFL offensive linemen.

Schmidt joined the coaching ranks after a successful playing career at San Diego State from 2005-08 that saw him transition from a walk-on defensive lineman to a scholarship offensive lineman and team captain in his senior season.

Knox brings more than 30 years of coaching experience, including 25 years in the SEC. He spent the 2022 season at Buffalo as running backs coach. Prior to that, he served four seasons as running backs coach and special teams coordinator at Florida, transforming the Gators' backfield and special teams units.

In Gainesville, Knox oversaw a potent rushing attack that twice averaged 200-plus yards rushing per game, ranking fourth in the SEC in 2018 (213.2 ypg) and fifth in 2020 (208.7 ypg). He served as Florida's interim head coach for the final two games of the 2021 season, including a 24-21 win over Florida State.

Prior Knox's time at Florida, he coached running backs at MSU from 2009-17. He also served as special teams coordinator for his final four seasons with the Bulldogs. During those nine seasons in Starkville, Knox tutored a 1,000-yard rusher five times. Four of those backs reached the NFL. He led the Bulldogs to a victory in the 2017 TaxSlayer Bowl as interim head coach.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Arnett Rounds Out Coaching Staff

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