Mississippi State's Jeff Lebby Reveals Top Priority for New Team

New football head coach Jeff Lebby addresses Mississippi State fans and media for the first time.

Mississippi State athletic director Zac Selmon, school president Mark Keenum and more welcomed new football head coach Jeff Lebby to the Bulldog family on Monday night with words of encouragement and a fireworks show.

Lebby also spoke at the welcome event, stating how excited he is for this new chapter of his life, but also answered questions at a press conference shortly after. The 36th coach in the program's history went into detail about certain aspects of the team's future plans, but emphasized throughout the night that "this is all about the players."

"I would have no chance to be standing here today and getting to do what I'm so passionate to do without my former players," Lebby said. "This program and all programs across the country are about these young people. It's about providing an incredible experience for these guys as they go through the good ole days."

Lebby said this to the team already, explaining that they need to make the most of being in the primetime of their lives.

"When they look up and the 45-year-old version of them is sitting around the house and they're talking about the good ole days playing college football, I want those guys to understand that right now they're in that," Lebby said. "They're having the good ole days and they need to take advantage of the opportunity they have and to have great respect for it."

Lebby also touched on his plans for a future coaching staff. He didn't name any candidates, but detailed what he's expecting of them.

"We need to make sure we're doing a great job empowering young people and not entitling them," Lebby said. "The players are going to have a sense of peace every day knowing that their staff and head coach has their backs. They are going to understand this is a player-led program. Player-led, not coach-fed. Our leadership will be elite."

Column: Was Hiring Jeff Lebby a Good Move by Mississippi State?