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Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Michigan State Spartans’ Head Coach Jonathan Smith Adds 11 New Members with 'Proven Track Record' to his Staff

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics
By Andrew Kusleika | Last updated 12/7/23

Michigan State Spartans‘ head coach Jonathan Smith started piecing together his staff with 11 additions. Most notably, Smith has named an offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in Brian Lindgren. Lindgren was previously the coordinator at Oregon State, and was nominated twice for the Broyles Award, which is given to the nation’s top assistant coach.

Despite hiring an offensive coordinator and an assistant head coach in Keith Bhonapha, Smith has yet to name a defensive coordinator. Potential candidates include former Wisconsin Badger interim head coach Jim Leonhard, UCLA defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn and former Mark Dantonio disciple Mike Tressel.

Other additions to Smith’s staff:

Blue Adams (secondary)
Jim Michhalczik (offensive line/run game coordinator)
Legi Suiaunoa (defensive line)
Brian Wozniak (tight ends/recruiting coordinator)
Mike McDonald (head of strength and conditioning)
Dan Van De Riet (chief of staff)
Cole Moore (general manager)
Michael Doctor (director of recruiting and player relations)
Austin D’Armond (director of recruiting communications)

In an announcement directly from the Spartans’ website, Smith outlines the reasoning for his decisions. While there are still spots to fill, Smith has given jobs to a lot of coaches that he has worked with in the past.

“This is an experienced staff with a proven track record,” said Smith. “They have coached numerous NFL Draft picks and All-Americans while winning championships and bowl games throughout their entire coaching careers. This staff has the ability to find talent and develop players, and they have won at every level of football. They are also an outstanding group as people and will create meaningful relationships with our players. I couldn’t be more excited to continue working with this excellent staff of coaches and welcome their families to East Lansing.”

New Michigan State Spartans’ Offensive Coordinator Brian Lindgren Brings 15 Years of Experience

Lindgren started his run as an offensive coordinator at the University of Northern Arizona in 2009. After that, he went on to San José State for a year followed by Colorado before staying at Oregon State for the last six years. His longest tenured job saw him mentor All-Pac-12 quarterbacks Jake Lutton and Chance Nolan, and most notably he coached highly-touted prospect DJ Uiagalelei to his most impressive year yet.

Lindgren generated one of the top offenses in the schools history on multiple occasions with the Beavers. His 32.2 points per game in 2022 was the most points per game by an Oregon State offense since 2012, and his 5,581 yards were good for the fourth-most yards in a 13-game season. This came after his 2019 effort, which saw him put up 4,941 yards, the most for a 12-game season in the school’s history.

Despite his record-setting statistics as an Oregon State offensive coordinator, his play calling has been called into question many times by Beaver fans. Offensive coordinators can often take a lot of the blame when an offense sputters, but there is a healthy collection of Beaver fans that are not sad to see him go.

Look, man. I love Brian Lindgren and how he has taken a team with no offense to where the Beavs are now… But play calling has been suspect. Too many times in the last 2 years, the offense has inexplicably gone away from what was working. That 2nd and 11 call on the final drive…

— Conner (@C_King2013) November 20, 2023

I’m so happy Michigan State will get Brian Lindgren

— Digital DAM (@TheDigitalDam) November 25, 2023

Brian Lindgren gone? We are so back. https://t.co/qYQbVthMrV pic.twitter.com/EiZsCd4fu4

— Harrison (@HarrisonNiekamp) November 27, 2023

Brian Lindgren gotta go.

— Beavs Tweets (Rob) (@BeavsTweets) November 19, 2023

Michigan State Spartans’ new Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach has Track Record of NFL-Caliber Backs

In his one year at Oregon State, Keith Bhonapha mentored Oregon State running back Damien Martinez into being a Doak Walker Award finalist. The All-Pac-12 First Team running back became the first Beaver since Jacquizz Rodgers in 2010 to score six rushing touchdowns in two games under Bhonapha’s tutelage.

Bhonapha also coached NFL running backs Salvon Ahmed and Myles Gaskin during his tenure as the Washington Huskies running backs coach. Gaskin was just the 2nd player in NCAA history to have four consecutive seasons in which he eclipsed 1,2000 yards, joining legendary Wisconsin Badger running back Ron Dayne in the record books.

In his time at Boise State, Smith coached NFL-level talent in pro-bowl running back Doug Martin and 1,000 yard-rusher Jay Ajayi. Although Smith has just two years of assisting the head coach under his belt, his ability to produce NFL talent speaks for itself.

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