Zach Arnett is in the unique position of replacing a legendary coach, and the new Mississippi State is doing it without any preparation following Mike Leach’s sudden passing in December.

Arnett’s goal is to stay authentic to himself, while also applying the lessons and philosophies from Leach as Arnett applies his own stamp on the program.

“I feel like I’ve got to do what I believe in,” Arnett said on SiriusXM. “You try to be someone else, it’s obviously going to come through as inauthentic and the players are going to read through that right away. But I got a chance to spend 3 years under, what in my opinion, is a first-ballot Hall of Fame coach. I mean the guy’s won every year he’s been.”

Arnett recalled Leach’s ability to simplify complex situations and communicate them with everyone in the organization was second to none. Arnett said he cherished his time under Leach, and gathered plenty of wisdom from Leach, and there are lessons he learned that will stay with him for the rest of his life.

“I’m forever indebted to him for that,” Arnett said. “But we’re certainly going to do some things maybe a little differently because I believe in them and I’m a different person than Coach Leach.”