Oct 12, 2013; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans linebacker Max Bullough (40) looks over Indiana Hoosiers offense during the second half in a game at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 42-28. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-Imagn Images Mike Carter-Imagn Images

MSU, Pat Fitzgerald to Hire Spartan Legend as Assistant

Originally posted on Michigan State Spartans on SI
By Jacob Cotsonika | Last updated Dec 10, 2025 9:18 PM ET

One Michigan State legend that Spartan fans have been clamoring for is returning to East Lansing.

Former MSU linebacker and former Notre Dame linebackers coach Max Bullough is reportedly joining Pat Fitzgerald's first staff at Michigan State, according to a report by SpartanMag. Bullough will still be coaching linebackers at his alma mater, but will also be a co-defensive coordinator alongside Joe Rossi.

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MANDATORY CREDIT: Austin Hough / South Bend Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK

Bullough was the linebackers coach at Notre Dame this season and last season, when the Fighting Irish made it all the way to the national championship game. Notre Dame went 10-2 this season and was the first team left out of this season's College Football Playoff.

That is Bullough's first and only job as a position coach before reaching co-coordinator status at Michigan State. He had previously been a graduate assistant at three other schools, beginning at Cincinnati in 2019, at Alabama from 2020-2022, and then Notre Dame in 2023.

Basically, wherever Bullough has gone, his team has won. Cincinnati went 11-3 in his lone year there. While Bullough was working with Nick Saban, Alabama went 37-4 with a national championship in 2020. The Fighting Irish went 34-7 during Bullough's three seasons on the staff.

Bullough also had a modest playing career in the NFL, where he appeared in 30 total games across three seasons for the Houston Texans. He made 56 total tackles, with three tackles for loss in his career in the pros.

Mike Carter-Imagn Images

MSU fans are going to remember Bullough's playing days in East Lansing a lot more, though.

The list of accolades is quite long across Bullough's time in the green and white from 2010-2013. He was a two-time team captain, a two-time first-team all-Big Ten selection, and a third-team All-American once. Bullough made 299 total tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and had three interceptions as a Spartan.

His hiring also invokes memories of the good ol' days for the Spartans, too. Just as teams that have hired him have won, MSU won a lot of games with him on the field, too. Michigan State went 42-12 (.778) during Bullough's career there, culminating in a 13-1 campaign that featured a Big Ten championship, Rose Bowl victory, and No. 3 national ranking in the final AP Poll during his senior season.

Bullough is the third known member of Fitzgerald's staff, and is the first outside hire. MSU confirmed that is was retaining Rossi and safeties coach James Adams on Saturday.