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LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – New UNLV head coach Dan Mullen announced the hiring of a fellow former SEC coach to his staff as Zach Arnett has been named the Rebels’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
Arnett, 38, moves from one set of Rebels to another as he was an analyst at Ole Miss for the 2024 season. He joined Lane Kiffin’s staff in Oxford after serving as head coach at Mississippi State in 2023. Arnett’s tenure included his first game leading the Bulldogs to a win over Illinois in the ReliaQuest Bowl following the tragic death of head coach Mike Leach.
Before his final year in Starkville, Arnett served as MSU’s defensive coordinator for three seasons from 2020-22. His aggressive scheme became a hallmark of the Bulldogs’ defensive units during that span, propelling them to top-five rankings in the SEC in total defense, rushing defense and takeaways.
Arnett made an immediate impact upon arrival to the Bulldog program in 2020. After taking over a defense that ranked 11th in the SEC in total defense, Mississippi State ranked fifth in total defense (389.7) and yards-per-play allowed (5.5), third in rushing TDs allowed (11), fourth in takeaways (18) and sixth in scoring defense (28.1) in his first season.
A two-time nominee for the Broyles Award (2020 and 2021), which is given to the nation’s top assistant coach, Arnett’s MSU defenses against SEC opponents finished third in the league in total defense in 2021 and fourth in the conference in 2020. He also was a member of the prestigious AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute (2020).
In his four years at Mississippi State, Arnett produced seven NFL Draft picks, including linebacker Nathaniel Watson (sixth round), cornerback Decamerion Richardson (sixth round) and defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy (sixth round) in 2024, defensive back Emmanuel Forbes (first round) and Cameron Young (fourth round) in 2023, cornerback Martin Emerson (third round) in 2022 and defensive lineman Marquiss Spencer (seventh round) in 2021.
Under Arnett’s tutelage, Watson, Forbes and Emerson also earned All-American honors.
No stranger to the Mountain West, Arnett served as defensive coordinator at San Diego State for two seasons from 2018-19. In 2019, he led the Aztec defense to top-10 rankings nationally in seven categories as SDSU ended the year second in rushing defense, third in scoring defense, fourth in interceptions, fourth in first downs allowed, sixth in total defense and eighth in takeaways. During Arnett’s first season at the helm, the Aztecs also sat among the nation’s best, ranking seventh against the run, 13th in first downs allowed and 21st in total defense.
Overall, Arnett spent nine seasons at SDSU where he started as a graduate assistant (2011-13) and later became linebackers coach (2014-17). In that span, the Aztecs went 81-38 (.681), won three MW Championships and played in a bowl game each year. He also coached seven all-conference linebackers, including All-American Calvin Munson.
Prior to becoming a coach, Arnett played linebacker for four seasons at New Mexico (2005-08) where he was a four-time Academic All-MW selection and earned 2008 CoSIDA All-America First Team honors. He made 200 career tackles, tied for the FBS lead with six forced fumbles as a senior captain in 2008 and helped the Lobos to 25 wins and back-to-back bowl games (2006-07).
A native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Arnett graduated from UNM with his bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in political science. He and his wife, Emily, have a son, Case, and a daughter, Collins.
ARNETT’S COACHING FILE
2025-SA UNLV – Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2024 Ole Miss – Analyst
2022-23 Mississippi State – Interim Head Coach/Interim Head Coach
2022 Mississippi State – Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
2020-21 Mississippi State – Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2018-19 San Diego State – Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2014-17 San Diego State – Linebackers
2011-13 San Diego State – Graduate Assistant/Defense
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