Introduction
Zach Arnett is an American football coach whose name has drawn attention recently — not only for his stints at major college-football programs, but also for rumors that have swirled around him. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at his career, personal life, compensation history, and the speculation — including an unverified rumor involving a “Wendy’s” — that has been circulating online.
Coaching Career & Role at Mississippi State University
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Arnett played college football at the University of New Mexico as a linebacker from 2005–2008.
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He started his coaching journey at San Diego State University (SDSU), working as a graduate assistant (2011–2013), then linebackers coach, and later promoted to defensive coordinator (2018–2019).
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In January 2020, Arnett joined Mississippi State as defensive coordinator/linebackers coach, and later coached safeties.
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After the sudden death of legendary head coach Mike Leach in December 2022, Arnett was promoted to head coach of Mississippi State — becoming the 35th head coach in the program’s history.
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However, his tenure as head coach was short-lived: on November 13, 2023, less than a full season in charge, Mississippi State relieved him of his duties after a 5–6 overall record and a 1–6 mark in conference play.
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After his firing, he landed a position as an analyst at Ole Miss in March 2024.
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Later, he briefly joined UNLV as defensive coordinator (December 2024), but resigned in April 2025 citing “personal reasons.”
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As of 2025, he’s working as a defensive analyst for Florida State University.
Arnett built a reputation as a strong defensive mind, known for an aggressive 3-3-5 scheme, heavy blitzing, and a focus on physicality. Under his defensive coordination, Mississippi State often ranked among the top in total defense, rushing defense, and takeaways in its conference.
Personal Life — Wife & Family
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Arnett is married to Emily Arnett. The couple reportedly tied the knot in 2016 after several years of engagement.
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Together they have children — at least two (a son and a daughter) according to public bios.
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The official bio on Mississippi State’s athletics site mentions their kids and lists the family under his “Personal Info” section.
Although Arnett’s personal life is relatively private, publicly available records confirm his marital status and that he is a father — no credible reports have emerged to suggest unusual personal controversies regarding his family.
Salary & Contract at Mississippi State
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When hired as head coach at Mississippi State (December 2022), Arnett signed a four-year deal — the maximum allowed under Mississippi state law — at a base salary of US$ 3 million per year, plus performance-based incentives.
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His pay history over the years at MSU: as an assistant (2020–2022), his compensation ranged — for example, in 2022, he made about US$ 1.225 million.
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After being fired in 2023 with two games remaining, MSU owed him a buyout that reportedly amounted to roughly 50 % of his remaining contract value. That equates to about US$ 4.5 million over the remaining years.
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Because of “offset language,” if Arnett secured another coaching job — which he did — the buyout obligations could be reduced accordingly.
Thus, while he didn’t complete the four-year term as head coach, his contract — and the buyout clause — ensured significant compensation.
The “Wendy’s” Rumor — What We Know (and What We Don’t)
In some internet discussions, especially on forums like Reddit, a rumor has circulated alleging that Arnett was involved in a bizarre incident at a Wendy’s drive-thru while affiliated with UNLV Rebels in 2025. Allegations range from indecent conduct to derogatory nicknames like “Spicy Baconator.”
However:
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There is no credible mainstream media report or any verified official statement supporting this claim.
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The rumor appears to stem from anonymous forum posts, not eyewitness accounts or police records — which undermines its reliability and suggests it may be pure speculation or a hoax.
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Subsequent public records (for example, his resignation from UNLV) cite “personal reasons,” not misconduct.
In short: this “Wendy’s drive-thru” story remains an unverified rumor, and should be treated with caution — like many such internet claims with no substantiation.
Conclusion
Zach Arnett’s journey through college-football coaching has been swift and eventful — from linebacker at New Mexico to defensive coordinator at San Diego State, then to MSU head coach, and later to analyst and coordinator roles. His professional pedigree as a defensive strategist is real and documented.
On the personal front, he’s publicly known to be married to Emily, with children, with no credible reports of scandal or personal misconduct.
As for the “Wendy’s rumor,” it remains in the realm of unfounded internet gossip — no verified sources back it up.
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