Mississippi State fans aren't at all surprised to see former Bulldogs' offensive coordinator fired in Houston

There's been lots of talk about firing coordinators amongst Mississippi State football fans. Specifically, supporters of the Bulldogs are pleading for a change at defensive coordinator in Starkville. That hasn't happened, at least not yet, but one coordinator previously employed at Mississippi State is now once again out of a job.

Former Mississippi State OC Kevin Barbay fired from Houston Cougars

Tuesday morning news broke that former Bulldog offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay had been relieved from that same role with the Houston Cougars. Barbay, who called the MSU offense in 2023 under Zach Arnett, was hired by first-year Houston head coach Willie Fritz this past offseason. ESPN's Pete Thamel first reported the news.

Houston has largely met expectations in their first season under a new staff. The Cougars are 4-7 entering the final week, which was right around where most had them to this point. And they even have a big upset over Kansas State to hang their hats on.

But things would be going a lot better for them if they weren't abysmal offensively. Houston is dead-last in the country in scoring offense at just 13.6 PPG. There's not much talent at all on that roster, but even with that being the case, scoring that little in 2024 is almost inexcusable. So unfortunately for Kevin Barbay, he's out of a job once again.

Bulldog fans aren't surprised that Kevin Barbay is already out of a job

Kevin Barbay's one season in Starkville went disastrously. Under poor guidance from Zach Arnett, he tore apart the Air Raid offense State's veteran-laden roster had been developed in to try and run a more pro style attack.

That failed miserably, and it's the main reason that Zach Arnett was let go not even a full season into his tenure. Having sat through 12 games of a Kevin Barbay-led offense, it's safe to say State fans weren't at all surprised to see his time in Houston quickly ending.

Kevin Barbay is, by all accounts, a genuinely good guy, and it's unfortunate that he and his family are already having to make a move once again. But that's life in coaching, and he just hasn't had the success needed to stick around in one place.

Zach Arnett's decision to hire Kevin Barbay looks all the more foolish now

The news of Kevin Barbay's rapid firing in Houston only makes Zach Arnett's decision to hire him last season even crazier. It was a bad hire from day one. How is a career pro style guy that's never had more than mild success at any stop going to step in and win with an Air Raid roster?

I do try to give Barbay some grace because, obviously, it's not like he hired himself. It was Arnett who wanted State to run a different offense with players that didn't fit it, and I can't blame him for jumping at the chance to be an SEC OC. He ultimately took on an impossible situation.

But given how this season went for him at Houston, it's painfully obvious Arnett hired someone who not only wasn't a good fit but also wasn't qualified for the job. And I acknowledge the roster situation in Houston isn't good, but if a well-respected and highly-successful coach like Willie Fritz feels a change was necessary, that tells you there's more to it than a talent issue.

Zach Arnett chose to stake his career on Kevin Barbay, and that's why he's now working as an analyst in Oxford instead of leading an SEC program.