Arnett Finalizes Player Development, Player Personnel and High School Relations Roles

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State head football coach Zach Arnett finalized the Director of Player Development, Director of Player Personnel and Director of High School Relations roles on his staff Friday.

Jason Washington – Director of Player Development
Joey Jones – Director of Player Personnel
Steve Campbell – Director of High School Relations

The trio of Washington, Jones and Campbell brings more than 75 years of combined experience as coaches and players inside Mississippi State's recruiting footprint of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana and Arkansas. Washington (2020-22), Jones (2018-19) and Campbell (2003) have each previously served as on-field coaches at Mississippi State during their careers.

Washington, who coached the Bulldogs safeties from 2020-21 and running backs during the 2022 season, has been an integral part of the Bulldogs' success and asset to the team and staff in recent years. In 2022, running back Jo'quavious Marks led the SEC in receiving yards among running backs. Prior to MSU, Washington spent three seasons at Texas (2017-19) as the Longhorns' recruiting coordinator and cornerbacks coach. He was named the Big 12's top recruiter in 2018 by 247Sports. Throughout his career, Washington has coached 10 players who have reached the NFL.

A native of San Antonio, Washington earned a bachelor's degree in 2002 and a master's degree in sport administration in 2004 from Texas State. He was a four-year letterman for the Bobcats in football and baseball. He started as a defensive back in football and was a center fielder on the baseball team.

Jones previously served as the Bulldogs' special teams coordinator from 2018-19 after nine seasons as head coach at South Alabama where he guided the Jaguars to 52 victories and two bowl appearances. Success has followed Jones throughout his career, both as a coach and as a player. Before moving into the collegiate ranks, he compiled an impressive 125-38 record in 13 years at the high-school level, including a 10-year run at Birmingham's Mountain Brook High, where he was 101-27 from 1996-2005.

A 1989 graduate of Alabama with a degree in business administration, Jones became one of the most beloved Crimson Tide players during his tenure, which began under the tutelage of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. He finished his career with 71 receptions, 1,386 yards and 15 touchdowns, ranking fourth on the career touchdown receptions chart and seventh in career receiving yards. In April 2011, Jones was inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame.

Campbell's impressive coaching résumé includes three national championships as both a player and a coach. A three-time National Coach of the Year, Campbell owns a 168-79 (.680) record across two decades while leading four different institutions including Southwest Mississippi CC (1997-98), Delta State (1999-2001), Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (2004-13), Central Arkansas (2014-17) and South Alabama (2018-20). In his first 19 seasons as a head coach, Campbell never guided a team that finished with a losing record while compiling a 159-53 overall mark.

A native of Pensacola, Florida, Campbell played at Tate High School under legendary coach Carl Madison from 1980-83. Campbell received his undergraduate degree in economics from Troy in 1988, and a master's degree in business administration from Auburn in 1990.

Arnett Finalizes Player Development, Player Personnel and High School Relations Roles

Players Mentioned

Jo'Quavious Marks

Mississippi State University Athletics

Arnett Finalizes Player Development, Player Personnel and High School Relations Roles

Players Mentioned

Jo'Quavious Marks

Related Videos