After a 2-10 campaign in the first year of the Jeff Lebby era, Mississippi State is making a trio of staff changes as part of an effort to jumpstart a turnaround in Starkville.
Two of the new staffers, Phil Loadholt and Vincent Dancy, come to the Golden Triangle by way of Colorado, where they coached under Deion Sanders in 2024.
Loadholt, who played in the NFL from 2009-15, led the Buffaloes offensive line this season, helping guide Colorado to America’s No. 4 passing offense. The former Minnesota Viking is no stranger to the Magnolia State, serving as an offensive analyst at Ole Miss from 2020-21, when Lebby was also an assistant under Lane Kiffin. Loadholt and Lebby also coached together for two seasons, from 2022-23, at Oklahoma.
“I’m grateful to Coach Lebby for the opportunity to join his great staff,” Loadholt said. “He’s one of the most innovative and dynamic offensive minds in college football, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him and what he is building in Starkville. I can’t wait to reconnect with him in this offensive system and develop our players.”
Dancy joins the staff as the defensive ends and outside linebackers coach, bringing even more Mississippi flavor.
The Shuqualak native has a long football history in the state, playing his college days at Jackson State and serving as the head coach at Mississippi Valley State from 2018-22 before being hired as a defensive quality control coach at Colorado. Dancy’s defensive ends played a major role in the Buffaloes leading the Big 12 in both sacks and tackles for loss.
“Mississippi is home,” Dancy said. “Growing up here, I’m well aware of the well-documented history of defensive excellence at Mississippi State. I couldn’t be more fired up to return to this great state – a place that means so much to me and my family.”
The third addition, Paul Rhoads, is a veteran defensive coach with a wealth of head coaching and defensive coordinator experience, including a pair of SEC stops at Auburn (2008) and Arkansas (2016-17). He most recently worked as a defensive assistant coach at Gulf Shores High School in Alabama and will serve as a senior defensive analyst for the Bulldogs.
“I’m excited and grateful for this opportunity to join Coach Lebby’s staff and the Mississippi State Family,” Rhoads said. “Throughout my career, I’ve long admired Mississippi State’s reputation for elite defensive play. I look forward to connecting with our players and helping them maximize their potential both on and off the field.”
Mississippi State’s 2025 season will commence Saturday, August 30 at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg against in-state foe Southern Miss.
