Today we’ll move on from our position group previews and look at MSU’s coaches for the 2025 season, which includes two new faces. Many members of this staff came over from Oregon State with head coach Jonathan Smith following the 2023 season while others had ties to Smith from previous coaching stops. Let’s take a look at the Spartans’ coaching staff (note: this preview includes position coaches only but not the full support staff for MSU football).
Head Coach
Jonathan Smith: second year at MSU; 23
years in coaching overall; previous stops at Oregon State, Washington, Boise State, Montana, and Idaho; Alma Mater – Oregon State 2001
As Smith prepares for his second year at Michigan State, his background is well-known to Spartans’ fans by now. Smith walked-on at Oregon State and eventually took over as the starting quarterback, leading the Beavers to a win over Notre Dame in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl.
Smith got his first head coaching job at his alma mater in 2018 and eventually turned the Beavers’ program around. After going 9-22 in his first three years in Corvallis, Oregon State went 25-13 under Smith from 2021-2023 including 10-3 in 2022.
Oregon State consistently ranked among the nation’s best in several key defensive categories by the end of Smith’s tenure. In 2023, the Beavers were 7th in sacks per game, 17th in rushing defense, and 18th in interceptions. In 2022, Oregon State was number 1 in the Pac 12 in scoring, rushing, total, and pass efficiency defense.
The Beavers were also exciting to watch when they had the ball. In 2023, Oregon State averaged 33.8 points and 427 yards per game.
Smith, and no doubt the Spartan fans, are looking for an even faster turn around in East Lansing where MSU desperately needs to avoid a fourth straight season without a bowl appearance. Last season began well enough as MSU won their first three games under Smith. But tough losses at Boston College and Michigan led to some letdowns and a 2-7 finish in 2024.
Smith was criticized for his sideline demeanor and perhaps more importantly, not having a full understanding of the intensity of the MSU-Michigan rivalry.
Making a bowl game, producing at least one marquee victory (ideally against Michigan), and creating some “buzz” around MSU football again – meaning making the Spartans fun to watch like Smith’s Oregon State teams – have to be priorities for Smith in year 2.
Defensive Coordinator
Joe Rossi: second year at MSU; 24 years coaching overall; previous stops at Minnesota, Rutgers, Maine, and Thiel College; Alma Mater – Allegheny College 2001
Smith hired Rossi away from Minnesota after the 2023 season after he spent six seasons with the Gophers, where he produced some impressive results. In his time at Minnesota, Rossi’s units often ranked in the top 10 in the FBS in total defense (3 times) and scoring defense (twice).
Rossi values stopping the run, eliminating explosive plays, and creating turnovers. He wants to make the offense drive the length of the field and earn every yard. Rossi has used different schemes over the years and tries to play to the strengths of his players rather than being married to a specific scheme.
There were some bright spots last year for the MSU defense as the Spartans ranked respectably in rushing defense (32nd), total defense (34th), and pass defense (46th). However, MSU also went 6 games in a row without producing a sack and struggled at times to get off the field on third downs.
Even if MSU can just hold steady in the categories mentioned above, generating a much more formidable and consistent pass rush is probably a primary key to a more successful 2024 season for the Spartans.
Offensive Coordinator
Brian Lindgren: second year at MSU; 19 years coaching overall; previous stops at Oregon State, Colorado, San Jose State, and Northern Arizona; Alma Mater – Idaho 2004 and Northern Arizona 2007
Lindgren followed Smith over from Oregon State and is also beginning his second year with the Spartans. He employs multiple formations, shifts, and pre-snap motions in a modern pro-style offense. Lindgren also values a physical running game and aims to keep the defense guessing by making the running and passing formations look similar pre-snap.
This proved to work well at Oregon State but the 2024 MSU offense struggled mightily to protect Aidan Chiles and to create a push in the running game. Missed assignments and pre-snap penalties also frequently set the Spartans back last year.
As we noted in our offensive line preview, better execution (and fewer injuries) may be key to MSU’s offensive improvement for 2025.
Defensive Position Coaches
- DEFENSIVE LINE – Legi Suiaunoa: 2 / 23 / Oregon State, Hawaii, Montana, Portland State, Eastern Oregon, Western Washington, Nevada, Palomar JC / Nevada 2002
- RUSH ENDS – Chad Wilt: 2 / 24 / Indiana, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Army, Maryland, Ball State, Richmond, Virginia, Liberty, Central Connecticut State / Taylor 2000 and Virginia 2006
- LINEBACKERS – Defensive Coordinator Joe Rossi also coaches the linebackers
- SECONDARY – Blue Adams: 2 / 15 / Oregon State, South Florida, West Virginia, Miami Dolphins, Northern Iowa, Purdue / Cincinnati 2003
- SAFETIES – James Adams: 1 / 16 / Wake Forest, Purdue, Navy, Western Michigan, Charlotte, Wofford / Wake Forest 2006
Defensive Assistant Position Coaches
- DEFENSIVE LINE – Antjuan Simmons: 3 / Ann Arbor Pioneer HS / Michigan State 2021
- LINEBACKERS – Andrew Bindelglass: 2 / Minnesota, Bryant, Holy Cross, Tufts / Tufts 2017
- DEFENSIVE BACKS – Chris Gordon: 3 / Idaho, South Dakota, Illinois Wesleyan, Minnesota / Capital 2019 and Idaho 2022
Suianoa and Blue Adams followed Smith from Corvallis to East Lansing while Wilt, Bindelglass, and Gordon all have connections to Rossi from his time at Minnesota. Former Spartan linebacker Simmons has spent two seasons as a graduate assistant and is now beginning his first year as a full-time coach at MSU.
James Adams is the only new addition to the staff on the defensive side of the ball and he replaces former Spartan player Demetrice Martin who left after the 2024 season to coach at UCLA.
Adams has coached defensive backs for his entire career, including one year in the Big Ten. He was Purdue’s cornerbacks coach in 2021 when the Boilermakers won 9 games, finished tied for second in the Big Ten West division, and beat Tennessee in the Music City Bowl. Purdue allowed 209 passing yards in 2021, good for 33rd in the country.
Offensive Position Coaches
- OFFENSIVE LINE & RUN GAME COORDINATOR – Jim Michalczik: 2 / 35 / Oregon State, Arizona, Cal, Oakland Raiders, Montana State, Miami (FL) / Washington State 1988
- TIGHT ENDS – Brian Wozniak: 2 / 10 / Oregon State / Wisconsin 2014
- RECEIVERS – Courtney Hawkins: 5 / 20 / Flint Beecher HS / Michigan State
- RUNNING BACKS – Keith Bhonapha: 2 / 22 / Oregon State, Boise State, Washington, Hawaii / Hawaii 2003 and 2005
- QUARTERBACKS – Jon Boyer: 1 / 23 / Oregon State, Northern Colorado, Colorado Mesa / Northern Colorado 2002
Offensive Assistant Position Coaches
- OFFENSIVE LINE – Jacob Lail: 4 / Wayne State / Wisconsin 2018
- TIGHT ENDS – Cordale Grundy: 2 / Colorado, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota / UT San Antonio 2019
- PASS GAME COORDINATOR – Aaron Pflugrad: 2 / Northern Arizona, Arizona State / Arizona State 2011
The Oregon State influence is even greater on the offensive side of the ball. Smith brought Lindgren, Michalczik, Wozniak, and Bhonapha with him after the 2023 season.
Spartan great Courtney Hawkins and Jacob Lail are the only holdovers from Mel Tucker’s staff. Grundy came to MSU from Deion Sanders’ staff at Colorado, where he had been a graduate assistant.
Boyer and Pflugrad are both beginning their first seasons with the Spartans and both should free up some time for Lindgren to focus on the offensive coordinator role. Lindgren served as OC and quarterbacks coach last year but Boyer, who also worked with Smith at Oregon State, was brought on to work the QB’s this year.
Pflugrad is serving as the pass game coordinator this year and is connected to Jonathan Smith through his father, Robin, who was the head coach at Montana when Smith was the offensive coordinator in 2010 and 2011.
Special Teams Coaches
Bhonapha and Wilt are co-coordinators for the Spartans’ special teams. Joe Begnal is MSU’s assistant special teams coordinator. Begnal is beginning his second year with the Spartans with previous stops at Memphis, Colorado State, Idaho, New Haven, Lincoln University, and his alma mater New England University.
Summary
In addition to the difficulties mentioned above that plagued the Spartans in 2023, the coaches might also be reflecting on their halftime and in-game adjustments as a staff. The only opponent MSU outscored in the second half last year was Prairie View A&M from the FCS. The Spartans went even with Maryland and Oregon in the second half but were outscored by every other opponent last year.
Michigan State held a lead going into the half in 6 games, including being up 13-6 at Boston College, and only trailed Michigan 9-7 at the break, before largely falling apart in the second half in 2023. In their last win of the season, the Spartans had to hang on against Purdue, where they took a 24-3 lead into the half only to get blanked 14-0 after the break. This was one of four games MSU was held scoreless in the second half last year.
So, there is a lot to work on for 2025 but the bulk of this staff was able to turn Oregon State into a regular winner in the Pac 12. They have addressed two of the biggest difficulties from last year – the offensive line and pass rush from the defensive line – through the transfer portal and have talked about being ahead of where they were last year as they move through summer camp.
Hopefully we’ll start to see all of the staff’s work start to pay off in just 9 more days.
MSU Football Coaching Staff Fun Facts
- 6 coaches followed Jonathan Smith from Oregon State to MSU after the 2023 season: Blue Adams, Suiaunoa, Lindgren, Bhonapha, Michalczik, and Wozniak. Boyer was previously on Smith’s staff at OSU but came to MSU after the 2024 season.
- 3 have NFL coaching experience: Blue Adams (Miami Dolphins), Michalczik (Oakland Raiders), and Grundy (Dolphins)
- 2 have played in the NFL: Blue Adams (4 seasons) and Hawkins (9 seasons). Pflugrad played one season in the United Football League.
- 4 have advanced degrees: Wilt (education leadership, foundations, and policy – Virginia), Gordon (organizational leadership – Idaho), Lindgren (educational leadership – Northern Arizona), and Bhonapha (public administration – Hawaii)
- 6 have previous coaching experience in the Big Ten: Rossi (Minnesota, Rutgers), Blue Adams (Purdue), James Adams (Purdue), Wilt (Indiana, Minnesota), Bindelglass (Minnesota), and Grundy (Minnesota)
- 4 played in the Big Ten: Simmons (MSU), Hawkins (MSU), Wozniak (Wisconsin), Lail (Wisconsin)
- 7 had only coached on the West Coast or Western United States prior to MSU: Smith, Suianoa, Lindgren, Bhonapha, Boyer, Wozniak, and Pflugrad
