When Mel Tucker took the reins at Michigan State back in 2020, one of his first moves was a bold, attention-grabbing hire: bringing in Spartan great Courtney Hawkins to coach wide receivers. It raised a few eyebrows at the time - not because Hawkins lacked football knowledge, but because he didn’t have any college coaching experience.
Still, the move made a lot of sense. Hawkins had a solid NFL résumé as a receiver and nearly 15 years under his belt as a high school head coach at Beecher High School in Michigan.
He knew the position, he knew how to lead, and he knew how to connect.
Fast forward to today, and that hire looks like one of the better decisions of the Tucker era. Hawkins not only stayed on staff after Tucker’s departure, but he also became one of the program’s top recruiters and a key figure in player development.
Just look at the list of receivers who’ve credited him on their way to the NFL: Jayden Reed, Jalen Nailor, and Keon Coleman all point to Hawkins as a major influence. That kind of track record stands out - especially when you consider Michigan State has had just one winning season since 2020.
Despite the turbulence, Hawkins has consistently helped players grow and find their way to the next level.
Nick Marsh might have been the next in line before he opted to transfer, but Hawkins’ development pipeline remains one of the few steady bright spots in East Lansing.
Now, with Pat Fitzgerald recently stepping in as head coach, there’s been plenty of speculation about what the new staff will look like. The expectation has been that Fitzgerald would overhaul the coaching staff, possibly keeping only a couple of assistants. But if fans had their way, Hawkins would be one of the ones staying put.
And there are signs that might actually be happening.
While no official announcements have been made about the offensive staff, subtle clues have started to surface. One of the more telling came on Monday, when three-star wide receiver Charles Britton was re-offered by Michigan State - and tagged both Fitzgerald and Hawkins in his tweet.
That’s not something you typically see if a coach is on the way out. It’s the kind of public signal that suggests Hawkins is still very much involved in recruiting and, by extension, likely to remain on staff.
That wasn’t the only hint, either.
Allen Trieu of 247Sports recently reported on Fitzgerald building a relationship with Dakota Guerrant, one of the top junior receivers in the state of Michigan and a consensus top-50 player in the 2027 class. While nothing is confirmed, the fact that Fitzgerald is prioritizing wideouts - without an official receivers coach in place - points to something going on behind the scenes. It’s not a stretch to think Hawkins may already be locked in privately, even if the announcement hasn’t come yet.
And then there’s the social media activity. During the early signing period, Hawkins was active on Twitter, welcoming receiver signees “home.”
That’s not something you’d expect from a coach who’s been let go. It’s the kind of interaction that signals continuity - and confidence that he’s sticking around.
If Hawkins is indeed staying on for a third coaching regime, it’s a smart move by Fitzgerald. Retaining a coach with deep ties to the program, a strong recruiting presence, and a proven ability to develop NFL-caliber talent gives the Spartans some much-needed stability on the offensive side of the ball. And as Fitzgerald works to build out the rest of his offensive staff, keeping Hawkins in the fold would be a strong foundation to build on.