David Turner’s run at Mississippi State is over.
The veteran assistant announced July 18 on social media that he is retiring, closing the book on his third stint with the Bulldogs. Turner had been Mississippi State’s defensive line coach from 2023-25 and was scheduled to shift into a senior defensive line consultant role under Jeff Lebby in 2026 before Lebby hired Ty Warren from Rice to take over the position.
“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’s ties to Starkville run deep. He previously coached Mississippi State’s defensive line from 2007-09 and again from 2013-15, and his career also included stops at 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 and helped sign Bulldogs star Jeffery Simmons, who became a first-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2019.
He also used his retirement note to thank the coaches who brought him into the program.
“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. The Bulldogs open the season at home Sept. 5 against Louisiana-Monroe at 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU.