3 coaches Mississippi State football should steer clear of

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 11: Chris Parson #16 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs throws the football in the first quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field on November 11, 2023 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 11: Chris Parson #16 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs throws the football in the first quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field on November 11, 2023 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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Bobby Petrino
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS – SEPTEMBER 17: Head Coach Bobby Petrino of the Missouri State Bears on the sidelines during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Bears 38-27. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Bobby Petrino

Look, Bobby Petrino is a successful coach. He’s an innovative offensive leader who can put up points seemingly anywhere with any sort of talent. That shouldn’t be taken away from him by anyone. But Petrino has been embroiled in his fair share of scandals and has upset more than one fanbase with regularity.

And, again, for a program that is seeking some stability and longterm leadership, why hire a 62-year-old coach who (on multiple occasions) left Louisville (with the last time being in the midst of a tumultuous and awful season), left Western Kentucky in a lurch, and failed to sustain success at Missouri State?

Oh, and then there’s the whole ordeal with the mess at Arkansas.

Petrino isn’t a hire that Mississippi State has to make, though I’ve seen some Mississippi State football fans suggest it. And while his offense seems to be working with the Texas A&M Aggies, maybe its best that MSU lets A&M continue to have him.

Coaches to consider instead

If Petrino is someone that you’re interested in because of his offense, there are other bright minds to consider.

  • Clay Helton
  • Gus Malzahn
  • Dan Mullen

The names on this list have a variety of different backgrounds, but they are all experienced (like Petrino), have coached big jobs (like Petrino), and are bright, offensive innovators.

Clay Helton didn’t last for very long at USC, even though he was winning there. Now that he’s moved back to the South, he’s thriving with Georgia Southern and has turned what is historically a triple option team into arguably the best passing attack in the country.

Gus Malzahn will be expensive and he arguably underachieved at times at Auburn, but his offense can really bully opposing teams. Year one in the Big 12 has been a rough transition at times, but Malzahn’s knowledge of the SEC is valuable and if he can recruit to Starkville, then he could be a good option for MSU.

And yeah, here’s a familiar face for Mississippi State fans.

If Mullen isn’t done coaching (and he can commit to recruiting at a high level), then why not return back to where he got his head coaching start? Florida fans weren’t fond of his recruiting woes and Mississippi State fans sometimes found themselves frustrated with his inability to pull off upsets, but Mullen did innovate and adapt his offense towards the end of his Florida stint. He’d bring stability and that would be welcomed right now.

Next. 5 dynamic coaches Mississippi State football fans should know. dark