How much Mississippi State football assistants are paid under coach Zach Arnett

Mississippi Clarion Ledger STARKVILLE — The timeline of Matt Brock’s promotion from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator may have taken a few weeks in the public eye, but behind closed doors with Mississippi State football coach Zach Arnett, the move was quick. On Dec. 21 – the opening of the early signing period and nine days after coach Mike Leach’s death – Arnett met with local reporters for the first time in his new role. Having been promoted from defensive coordinator, Arnett said he intended to call plays on defense in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Illinois. On Jan. 2, MSU took down the Illini. After Mississippi State’s defense put together perhaps its best outing of the season in a 19-10 win, Arnett said it was actually Brock who wound up calling plays. Arnett was swamped with the duties of transitioning into his new role, so he felt it was the best move to give Brock the reins. On Jan. 4, Brock was announced as MSU’s next defensive coordinator. However, the promotion had been in place before any of this. Brock signed a contract on Dec. 20 to serve as Mississippi State’s next defensive coordinator, according to documents obtained by the Clarion Ledger. His salary remained at $465,000 until Jan. 3. His salary then jumped to $800,000 in a deal that runs through Jan. 31, 2025. The new deal makes Brock the second-highest paid assistant on Arnett’s first staff with offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay making $900,000. Brock wasn’t the only assistant to earn a raise. Arnett retained five members from the previous staff – which includes the promotion of Brett Dewhurst from defensive analyst to safeties coach. Cornerbacks coach Darcel McBath saw his salary jump $60,000. Special teams coordinator Eric Mele will earn $45,000 more. Tony Hughes’ salary remains $500,000 as he moves from nickelbacks coach to running backs. Arnett brought in five new position coaches, all of whom are making more than $400,000. The Bulldog Club is not adding to the current staff salaries, a source with knowledge of the situation told the Clarion Ledger. The source requested anonymity as the Bulldog Club does not publicly disclose its involvement in salaries.