Mississippi State is promoting defensive coordinator Zach Arnett to head coach after the death of Mike Leach, according to multiple reports on Wednesday night.

ESPN reported Arnett agreed to a four-year deal.

Arnett, the defensive coordinator, began serving as interim coach after Leach was hospitalized Sunday. Leach died Monday night due to a heart condition.

Arnett has been defensive coordinator for three seasons in Starkville since Leach hired him to be on his first staff after becoming the Mississippi State coach following the 2019 season.

The No. 22 Bulldogs (8-4) rank 39th nationally in total defense (350.3 yards per game) and 50th in scoring defense (24.2) heading into their matchup against Illinois in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 2.

The 36-year-old Arnett played at New Mexico from 2005-08 and spent nine seasons on the San Diego State staff under Rocky Long, his head coach with the Lobos. Arnett was a graduate assistant for three seasons and linebackers coach for the next six, doubling up as defensive coordinator in 2018-19.

Leach was in his third season at Mississippi State with a record of 19-17. Overall, he went 158-107 in 21 seasons at Texas Tech (2000-09), Washington State (2012-19) and with the Bulldogs.

–Field Level Media