Michigan State’s football rebuild under its new head coach is starting to take shape - and the foundation is looking strong.
According to recent reports, the Spartans have locked in two key hires: Jacob Schmidt will serve as Chief of Staff, while Joel Welsh Jr. takes over as the program’s new Strength and Conditioning Coach. These additions mark important early steps as the new regime begins to carve out its identity in East Lansing.
Schmidt brings a strong operational pedigree from his time at Northwestern, where he served as Director of Football Operations before transitioning into a role with the Wildcats’ NIL collective. That blend of on-the-ground logistics and modern player support experience - especially in the evolving NIL era - makes him a valuable asset in today’s college football landscape. Schmidt’s familiarity with Big Ten culture and operations should help smooth the transition for a Michigan State program looking to reestablish its footing.
Welsh, meanwhile, is no stranger to the physical demands of Big Ten football. He most recently led the sport performance program at Central Michigan, but his roots in the conference run deeper - he spent four years with Iowa from 2012 to 2016.
That tenure in Iowa City, a program long known for its toughness and player development, adds credibility to Welsh’s ability to raise the Spartans’ physical ceiling. Expect his presence to be felt early in offseason workouts.
Beyond these two hires, the coaching staff is starting to take a clearer shape - though some major dominoes have yet to fall. Most notably, the offensive coordinator position remains open, a critical decision that will define the team’s identity on that side of the ball.
On the defensive front, there’s more clarity. Joe Rossi has been retained and will now share co-defensive coordinator duties with Max Bullough, who was recently hired away from Notre Dame and will also coach the linebackers. Bullough, a former Spartan standout, brings both coaching chops and a deep connection to the program - a combination that could resonate well in the locker room and on the recruiting trail.
Safeties coach James Adams is also staying on staff, providing some continuity in a secondary that will need to be a stabilizing force during the transition.
All told, the early moves suggest a deliberate and strategic approach to building a staff that blends Big Ten experience, program familiarity, and modern football sensibilities. While the offensive coordinator hire looms large, Michigan State’s new coach is clearly laying the groundwork for a program that’s ready to compete - and evolve - in today’s college football landscape.