Michigan State Hires Jonathan Smith As New Head Coach
The Michigan State Spartans have hired Oregon State’s Jonathan Smith as the program’s next head coach, the program announced Saturday. This officially ends their search after they fired Mel Tucker due to violating the University’s sexual misconduct policy.
The Spartans finished 2023 with a 4-8 record, and hiring a new head coach was their top priority. Michigan State’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics had a lot of good things to say about the new hire.
“Jonathan has a proven track record of success, building the Oregon State program from the ground up by implementing a plan resulting in sustained historic success for the Beavers,” Alan Haller said via release. “He’s been a part of championship staffs, coached in the College Football Playoff, and understands what’s required to be successful at the highest level, learning from some of the game’s most successful coaches.
“On the field, his teams are tough and physical, yet innovative. This year, Oregon State has controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, ranking among the nation’s leaders in both rushing offense and rushing defense. He’s shown not only the ability to recruit talented student-athletes who fit his system but also to develop and maximize players once they’re in the program. At his core, he’s a quarterbacks coach, and throughout his career, he’s been instrumental in the development of young quarterbacks, which is essential in today’s college football landscape.”
After Michigan State’s brutal 42-0 loss to Penn State, Alan Haller fired the entire coaching staff as well. This will likely allow Smith to rebuild the program however he wants. It seems like the school already has faith that Smith will do a better job than the previous staff.
Smith took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express his gratitude towards Oregon State, which is also his alma mater.
“As I start this next chapter of my coaching career, I want to first thank all the players, coaches, and colleagues I have worked with the last 6 years,” Smith wrote. “I will cherish the memories and the friendships.
“When I first arrived as a freshman college student, I had no idea the opportunities and relationships this community would provide for me and my family,” Smith said. “The collective impact you have made makes it impossible for me to thank everyone individually, but I am forever grateful.”
It will be interesting to see how Smith adjusts to the Big Ten. The program needs a lot of work and they will have to face a few pretty tough opponents next year such as Ohio State, Michigan, and Oregon. Year one will likely be difficult but I think it was a great hire for Michigan State and it will end up paying off down the road for the Spartans.
