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Long time defensive coach joining Mississippi State football staff

A seasoned veteran is joining the room in Starkville, and he's someone who can provide valuable advice for both Coleman Hutzler and Jeff Lebby.

ByAndrew Miller|
Nov 14, 2015; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Paul Rhoads reacts to an overturned call against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
Nov 14, 2015; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Paul Rhoads reacts to an overturned call against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images | Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images

Mississippi State football is making much-needed moves to turn the program around in 2025. On Sunday, news broke of Jeff Lebby hiring a pair of Colorado assistants to serve as position coaches on his staff in offensive line coach Phil Loadholt and defensive ends/outside linebackers coach Vincent Darby.

But those weren't the only moves of the day, as Lebby made the hire of a third coach to join him in Starkville.

Former Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads to join Mississippi State as defensive analyst

Jeff Lebby is added a veteran presence to his defensive coaching staff. Former Iowa State head coach and long time defensive assistant Paul Rhoads is joining Mississippi State as a defensive analyst. Steve Robertson of 247 Sports first reported the news.

Paul Rhoads is well-traveled as a defensive coach with 34 years of experience in the college ranks. 11 of those seasons were spent as a power conference defensive coordinator with stints at Pittsburgh, Auburn, Arkansas, and Arizona. Five times during that stretch he led a defense that ranked in the Top 30 in scoring defense nationally.

Rhoads spent seven seasons as the head coach of Iowa State from 2009 through 2015. In three of his first four seasons, he led the Cyclones to bowl games. He has the third most bowl appearances of any Iowa State coach in history, and his 32 wins ranks seventh most all-time for the program. Rhoads, who is currently working as an assistant at Gulf Shores High School in Alabama, most recently worked in college football as the outside linebackers coach at Boston College in 2023.

This seems like a valuable move for the program. One of the biggest knocks on both Jeff Lebby and DC Coleman Hutzler is their lack of experience, as neither had held their respective roles prior to the 2024 season. Rhoads is someone who has done both. He can offer advice to Hutzler on running the defense and provide insight to Lebby on leading the program. Having a seasoned vet in the room should be a good thing for Mississippi State.

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