Michigan State just made a statement-and the rest of the Big Ten is officially on notice.
In a bold and calculated move, newly appointed head coach Pat Fitzgerald has brought in LeVar Woods as his special teams coordinator, pulling him away from Iowa after nearly two decades of service. This isn’t just a coaching hire; it’s a seismic shift that ends one of the longest-running assistant tenures in the conference and signals that Fitzgerald isn’t wasting any time reshaping the Spartans in his image.
Woods’ departure from Iowa is significant. He’s not just any assistant-he’s an institution in Iowa City.
A former Hawkeye standout and seven-year NFL veteran, Woods has been a fixture on the Iowa sideline since 2008. His coaching journey with the program has been extensive: from administrative assistant to linebackers coach, to tight ends coach, and eventually taking over special teams in 2017.
And once he got that role, he ran with it.
Under Woods’ leadership, Iowa’s special teams became one of the most consistent and respected units in the country. We're talking about a group that routinely ranked among the national leaders in efficiency, field position, and scoring impact.
His units weren’t just solid-they were game-changers. From All-American returners to Groza Award-caliber kickers, Woods had a knack for developing talent and putting players in position to succeed.
That track record is exactly what makes this hire so compelling for Michigan State. Special teams often get overlooked in the broader conversation, but in the Big Ten-where games are often decided by field position, weather, and physicality-having an elite coordinator in that phase of the game can be the difference between seven wins and ten.
It’s also worth noting how the transition was handled. Both Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and Woods addressed the move publicly, and there’s a mutual respect that underscores just how impactful Woods has been-not just as a coach, but as a presence within the Hawkeyes’ program.
This wasn’t a messy exit. This was a professional parting of ways, with a coach ready for his next challenge and a program acknowledging his contributions.
For Michigan State, this is more than just filling a position on the staff. It’s about culture-building.
It’s about bringing in a coach who understands what it takes to win in this conference and who has a proven blueprint for excellence. Fitzgerald is clearly looking to establish a tough, disciplined identity in East Lansing, and Woods fits that mold perfectly.
Bottom line: This is a big-time move that could pay dividends for the Spartans sooner rather than later. And for the rest of the Big Ten, it’s a reminder that Michigan State isn’t sitting back-they’re gearing up for something bigger.