Mississippi State made its hire of Alabama assistant Coleman Hutzler official on Friday.

New Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lebby is hiring Hutzler as his defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach. Hutzler comes to Starkville after two seasons coaching outside linebackers and coordinating the special teams for Alabama. All throughout its news release, Mississippi State praised Hutzler as a developer of talent.

“Coach Hutzler has helped lead many of the most successful programs in the nation and developed players who not only reached the NFL but excelled there and had outstanding careers,” Lebby said in a statement. “Put simply, he knows exactly what winning football looks like, and he’s gotten the most out of his players at every one of his stops. Coach Hutzler demands a toughness and intensity from his players, and we’re thrilled to add his drive and expertise to our staff.”

Hutzler started at San Diego as a linebacker from 2002-2005. He began his coaching career at San Diego in a grad assistant role. His first full-time assistant role came at Florida in 2010, where he spent two seasons as the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach.

He has coordinated special teams and/or coached linebackers at every school he’s been at since. That includes stints at New Mexico (2012-13), Florida again (2014), Boston College (2015), South Carolina (2016-19), Texas (2020), Ole Miss (2021), and Alabama. Lebby and Hutzler worked together previously on Lane Kiffin’s staff with the Rebels. He was nominated for the Broyles Award in 2017.

During Hutzler’s career, 14 players have gone on to play in the NFL. His former players have accounted for more than 30 all-conference honors, more than 25 All-America honors, four Conference Player of the Year awards, and four National Player of the Year awards.

“I’m honored and excited to join the Bulldog family and this outstanding staff Coach Lebby is assembling,” Hutzler said in a statement. “I look forward to building upon the storied history and tradition of elite defensive play here in Starkville.”