Michigan State’s coaching staff under Pat Fitzgerald is starting to take shape - and it’s doing so with some serious intent. On Saturday, two key assistant hires were officially named: Mike Bajakian as quarterbacks coach and Hank Poteat as cornerbacks coach.
Let’s start with Bajakian, a name that hadn’t been publicly linked to the Spartans’ staff until now. Many assumed new offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan would double as the QB coach, but Michigan State is clearly opting for specialization. Bajakian brings a deep well of experience and a quarterback-centric approach that should help accelerate the development of whoever lines up under center in East Lansing.
But the headline-grabber here is Hank Poteat. His name had been circulating in coaching circles for weeks, and now it’s official - the former Iowa State assistant and Super Bowl champion is headed to Michigan State to oversee the cornerbacks.
And this is a big one.
Poteat’s résumé speaks for itself. A third-round pick out of Pitt in 2000, he spent a decade in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl along the way.
But it’s what he’s done since hanging up the cleats that has Michigan State fans buzzing. After starting his coaching career as a grad assistant at Pitt in 2013, Poteat moved quickly through the college ranks, holding cornerbacks coach roles at Kent State, Toledo, Wisconsin, and most recently Iowa State.
His track record of producing elite secondaries is hard to ignore. In 2024, Iowa State - with Poteat leading the corners - boasted the No. 1 passing defense in the nation.
That same season, the Cyclones reached the Big 12 Championship Game and capped the year with a win over No. 15 Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
That kind of defensive success doesn’t happen by accident.
And it wasn’t a one-year wonder. In 2023, Iowa State finished 10th nationally in interceptions.
Go back to his 2022 stint at Wisconsin, and Poteat’s unit racked up 17 picks - seventh-best in the country - with both starting corners earning All-Big Ten honors. That’s the kind of production that turns heads, especially in a league like the Big Ten where physical, disciplined secondary play is a must.
For Michigan State, this hire feels like more than just filling a vacancy. It’s a statement.
The Spartans have struggled to recapture the defensive swagger that once defined the “No Fly Zone” era in East Lansing. Those days have felt distant in recent years, but with Poteat now in charge of the cornerbacks, there’s a real sense that the tide could be turning.
He’s been successful at every stop, and more importantly, he’s done it in this conference. He knows what Big Ten football demands - and he’s shown he can build secondaries that meet the moment.
This could be one of Pat Fitzgerald’s most impactful hires - not just for the 2025 season, but for the foundation he’s trying to lay in East Lansing. If Michigan State is going to reestablish itself as a defensive powerhouse, it’ll start with guys like Hank Poteat leading the charge.