STARKVILLE — Mississippi State has its offensive play-caller in place.
The Bulldogs have hired Appalachian State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kevin Barbay, MSU announced Thursday evening.
“Kevin Barbay is an innovative rising star in college football,” head coach Zach Arnett said in a news release. “He’s an outside-of-the-box thinker with a brilliant Xs and Os mind. His offenses have proven to be creative, efficient and explosive, and his attacking offensive philosophy will be an excellent fit for our program. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome him and his family to Starkville.”
The hire fills a play-calling vacancy created by the death of Mike Leach on Dec. 12. Outside receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr. called offensive plays in the Jan. 2 ReliaQuest Bowl but was not retained by Arnett.
Barbay spent the past season at App State after three years at Central Michigan, including serving as the Chippewas’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during a 9-4 season in 2021.
Appalachian State ranked 26th in total offense this season at 455.3 total yards per game. The Mountaineers’ run game was ranked 36th nationally, while their passing game ranked 48th.
“I want to thank Coach Arnett for this incredible opportunity to join an amazing staff and a program with a storied tradition,” Barbay said. “Coach Arnett and I share many of the same coaching philosophies, and I’m excited to begin this next chapter of my coaching career in the best conference in the country.”
Barbay, 40, has also made stops at Florida, Colorado State and Baylor, although he was not a position coach in any of those locales.
The Nederland, Texas, native played quarterback at Grambling State for three seasons, winning the 2002 SWAC championship. Barbay is a 2005 graduate of Lamar.
“My family and I are fired up to get to Starkville and join the Mississippi State family,” Barbay said. “I can’t wait to build relationships with, teach and develop our players both on and off the field.”
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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