STARKVILLE — Jeff Lebby is fleshing out his coaching staff with some veteran talent.

Mississippi State announced it has hired Vincent Dancy, Phil Loadholt and Paul Rhoads as assistant coaches for its football staff. Dancy and Rhoads have previous head coaching experience, and Loadholt is a former NFL offensive lineman who has been coaching in college since 2018.

Loadholt will coach the Bulldogs’ offensive line and Dancy the defensive ends and outside linebackers. Rhoads will serve as a senior defensive analyst.

Loadholt and Dancy were both on Deion Sanders’ staff at Colorado in 2024.

Under Loadholt’s leadership, his offensive line blocked for the Buffaloes to lead the Big 12 and rank fourth nationally in passing offense.

Dancy’s defensive ends helped Colorado lead the Big 12 in both sacks and tackles for loss, while ranking 13th and 16th nationally in those categories, respectively.

Loadholt and Dancy also both have Mississippi connections. Loadholt was part of Ole Miss’ staff in 2020 and 2021, when Lebby was the offensive coordinator there. He also worked with Lebby at Central Florida and Oklahoma.

Dancy is a Mississippi native who was an All-SWAC linebacker at Jackson State from 2002-05. He was the defensive coordinator for three seasons at Mississippi Valley State, and then the Delta Devils’ head coach from 2018-22.

“As a native Mississippian and long-time experienced coach inside our great state, Vincent is incredibly connected and carries a tremendous amount of respect inside our recruiting footprint,” Lebby said. “His relationships, recruiting ties and defensive coaching prowess will make an instant impact on our program, and I’m thrilled for him to become a part of the Mississippi State Family.”

Rhoads has coached at nearly a dozen schools during a 35-year career, including a seven-year run as Iowa State’s head coach from 2009-15. The Cyclones went to three bowl games during Rhoads’ tenure, after going 8-27 in the three years prior to his arrival.

“Paul is highly regarded in college football,” Lebby said. “He’s a ball coach with an extraordinary defensive mind who has a proven history of success over the last three decades. He’s seen it all. His knowledge of the game, ability to develop players to the next level and experience game planning and play calling in the toughest conferences in the country will make our program better.”