Zach Arnett (no relation) has stepped down as UNLV's defensive coordinator, the program announced Monday. Paul Guenther will step up to serve as interim defensive coordinator. Personal reasons were cited for the change.
Arnett was part of a (small) Stark Vegas to Las Vegas movement, a former Mississippi State head coach joining the staff of another former Mississippi State head coach in Dan Mullen. Arnett spent 2020-23 in Starkville, coming aboard as defensive coordinator and linebackers (later safeties) coach before he was elevated to head coach following Mike Leach's death. He lasted less than a season in that position; Mississippi State let him go after a 4-6 start to the 2023 campaign. Arnett spent 2024 as an analyst at Ole Miss.
The UNLV position was a return to Arnett's Mountain West roots. The Albuquerque native played at New Mexico and coached at San Diego State from 2011-18.
Guenther joined UNLV's staff last month as associate head coach and safeties coach. He and Mullen have not worked together previously -- Guenther spent 2002-24 working in the NFL -- put the pair were teammates at Ursinus College in the early 1990s.
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