STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) Mississippi State has named Zach Arnett as its defensive coordinator, less than two weeks after he had accepted the same position at Syracuse.

The 33-year-old Arnett had spent the last two seasons as San Diego State's defensive coordinator. Syracuse announced Jan. 11 it had hired Arnett, but he's now joining new Mississippi State coach Mike Leach's staff instead.

Mississippi State announced the hire Wednesday. Syracuse officials also said Wednesday that the school matched Mississippi State's offer, though Arnett said in a statement that "I couldn't pass up the chance to join an SEC program like Mississippi State."