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5 innovative coaches Mississippi State football fans should know

By Ethan Lee

AUBURN, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Zach Arnett of the Mississippi State Bulldogs reacts during the second quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 28, 2023 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
AUBURN, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Zach Arnett of the Mississippi State Bulldogs reacts during the second quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 28, 2023 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) /
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Head coach Rhett Lashlee of the SMU Mustangs talks with head coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA – SEPTEMBER 9: Head coach Rhett Lashlee of the SMU Mustangs talks with head coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners before their game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 9, 2023 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 28-11. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

Rhett Lashlee of the SMU Mustangs

You looking for someone who can recruit in one of the most talent rich areas in the country and also be familiar with what it takes to win in the Southeastern Conference? Take a look at Rhett Lashlee, who is absolutely scorching defenses with his SMU Mustangs.

Lashlee was a key member of Gus Malzahn’s coaching staffs while the two were with the Arkansas State Red Wolves (shoutout to my second alma mater) and the Auburn Tigers. Lashlee moved on to coach elsewhere and was a member of Sonny Dykes’ SMU Mustangs teams from 2018 to 2019.

After a quick stint with the Miami Hurricanes as their offensive coordinator, Lashlee returned to Dallas to lead the Mustangs. So far, Malzahn’s protege is doing well as a head coach. The Mustangs are 6-2 on the season right now and they’re scoring over 40 points per game. The Mustangs also average 463 total yards of offense per game.

That’s a lot of offense. And this is a team that is scoring in a hurry and running a ton of plays per game. Right now, SMU is averaging 82.6 plays per game. For reference, Mississippi State is currently averaging 60.9 plays per game.

Lashlee can win and he can guide an offense that would score a ton of points. There are certainly worse potential head coaching candidates the Bulldogs could pursue.

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