David Turner’s run at Mississippi State is over.
The veteran defensive line coach announced July 18 on social media that he is retiring, ending a third stint with the Bulldogs and closing the book on a career that stretched across more than 40 years.
“To the Mississippi State University family, community, my former players, current players and many friends, it is time for me to step away from the game that I love and have devoted over two thirds of my life to,” Turner posted on social media.
Turner had been Mississippi State’s defensive line coach from 2023-25 and was slated to move into a senior defensive line consultant role under coach Jeff Lebby in 2026. Instead, Lebby brought in Ty Warren from Rice to handle the defensive line job.
This was hardly unfamiliar territory for Turner. He also coached Mississippi State’s defensive line from 2007-09 and again from 2013-15, making the Bulldogs one of the most consistent stops on a long SEC coaching trail that included Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Texas A&M and Florida.
“Mississippi State has been good to me and my family, and in the life of a college football coach, which is often a nomadic one, this has been home,” Turner wrote. “I never imagined after coming here back in 2007 that the relationships that me and my family would ultimately develop would run so deep.
“I want to thank all the student-athletes that I've had the privilege to coach over the last 40 years and more importantly all of the defensive lineman that allowed me to not only coach them but coach them hard and love them harder.
“Dblock is real and don't ever forget it. My hope is that I've helped each one of you become a better man. I love you guys!”
According to his Mississippi State bio, Turner coached 15 NFL draft picks during his career. He also played a key role in signing Jeffery Simmons, the Bulldogs standout who became a first-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2019.
Turner also thanked the head coaches who gave him a place on their staffs over the years.
“I want to thank Sylvester Croom, Dan Mullen, Zach Arnett and Jeff Lebby for allowing me to be a part of your staffs, but more importantly your dream of building this program in to a program that all Bulldogs could be proud of,” Turner wrote. “I've been part of some great moments in MSU history.
“To the Starkville community, thank you for all you've done for me and more importantly, my family, this has been our home away from home.”
Mississippi State is expected to begin preseason practice the first week of August, with the Bulldogs opening the season at home Sept. 5 against Louisiana-Monroe at 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
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