Pat Fitzgerald’s first offseason in East Lansing is already shaping up to be a pivotal one - and perhaps no decision looms larger than who he’ll hand the keys to on offense. As the new head coach at Michigan State, Fitzgerald is building his inaugural staff from the ground up, and the offensive coordinator hire might just be the most consequential move he makes.
Let’s be real: the Spartans' offense has struggled for the better part of the last decade. Outside of flashes in 2017 and 2021, consistency - and explosiveness - has been hard to come by.
If Fitzgerald is going to get this program trending back toward Big Ten relevance, it starts with fixing the offense. And that means finding the right play-caller to lead the way.
One name gaining traction in the early stages of the search? Nick Sheridan.
Sheridan, currently the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama, is an intriguing candidate who brings both experience and a unique backstory. Spartan fans might raise an eyebrow at first - yes, Sheridan played his college ball at Michigan under Rich Rodriguez, starting out as a walk-on before earning the starting quarterback job.
That’s not exactly a fast track to popularity in East Lansing. But if you look past the rivalry ties, there’s a lot to like about what Sheridan brings to the table.
He’s a coach who’s climbed the ladder the hard way, starting as a graduate assistant at Western Kentucky back in 2011. Since then, he’s logged time at South Florida, Tennessee, Indiana, Washington, and now Alabama - steadily building a résumé that spans multiple offensive systems and some of the top programs in the country.
Here’s a quick breakdown of his coaching path:
- 2011: Western Kentucky (Graduate Assistant)
- 2012: Western Kentucky (Passing Game Coordinator/QBs)
- 2013: South Florida (Passing Game Coordinator/QBs)
- 2014-2016: Tennessee (Graduate Assistant)
- 2017-2018: Indiana (Quarterbacks)
- 2019: Indiana (Tight Ends)
- 2020-2021: Indiana (Offensive Coordinator/QBs)
- 2022-2023: Washington (Tight Ends)
- 2024: Alabama (Offensive Coordinator/QBs)
- 2025-present: Alabama (Co-Offensive Coordinator/QBs)
That’s a decade-plus of steadily increasing responsibility, capped by his current role at Alabama - where he’s been part of one of the most dynamic coaching trees in college football. Sheridan’s connection to Kalen DeBoer is especially notable. DeBoer’s offensive philosophy - creative, adaptable, and quarterback-friendly - has left its mark on Sheridan, and that influence could be exactly what Michigan State needs.
Sheridan also brings legitimate play-calling experience, having called plays at Indiana in 2020 and 2021, and again at Alabama in 2024. That kind of experience matters, especially for a program that’s looking to modernize its attack and compete with the high-powered offenses across the Big Ten.
Now, to be clear - there’s no official word that Sheridan is the frontrunner or that a deal is imminent. But his name is one that’s consistently surfacing in conversations around the program. And given his background, experience, and offensive pedigree, he’s absolutely a candidate worth watching closely.
For Fitzgerald and the Spartans, this hire could set the tone for the entire Fitzgerald era. And if they go with Sheridan, it would be a bold choice - one that might raise a few eyebrows at first, but could ultimately bring the kind of offensive spark this program has been missing for far too long.