The Minnesota Golden Gophers are no strangers to change on the defensive side of the ball. For the second straight offseason, they’ve watched their defensive coordinator pack up and move on.
First, it was Joe Rossi heading to Michigan State. Then, Corey Hetherman followed suit a year later, taking a job with the Miami Hurricanes.
But the coaching carousel didn’t stop there.
Last offseason, the Gophers also lost one of their most promising young assistants - a name that Gopher fans know well: Winston DeLattiboudere. The former Minnesota defensive lineman turned coach didn’t just switch sidelines in the college ranks. Instead, he made the leap to the NFL, joining the Arizona Cardinals as their defensive line coach at just 26 years old.
Now, after one season in the pros, DeLattiboudere could be heading back to the Big Ten - but not to his alma mater.
Michigan State Zeros In on DeLattiboudere
According to reports, Michigan State is working to bring DeLattiboudere on board as their new defensive line coach. The move would reunite him with Joe Rossi, the Spartans' defensive coordinator and the same coach he worked under during his time at Minnesota.
It’s a logical fit. DeLattiboudere and Rossi already have a working relationship, and the numbers back up their combined impact.
In 2022, Minnesota's defense posted just 19 sacks. That number jumped to 26 in 2023 - DeLattiboudere’s first year coaching the defensive line - and climbed again to 28 in 2024.
That kind of year-over-year improvement speaks to both scheme and development, and DeLattiboudere had his fingerprints all over it.
From Gopher to Spartan?
If the move to East Lansing becomes official, it would mark a return to the college game for DeLattiboudere, who’s already built an impressive resume for someone still in his mid-20s. After joining the Gophers staff in 2023, he was promoted to assistant head coach just a year later - a rapid rise that caught the attention of NFL scouts and front offices. Arizona brought him in to lead their defensive line, a role that put him in charge of a room full of veterans, many of whom were older than him.
Now, Michigan State is looking to tap into that same energy and upside as they rebuild under new leadership. With former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald taking the reins in East Lansing, the Spartans are assembling a staff that blends experience with fresh perspective. DeLattiboudere checks both boxes.
A Look Back at DeLattiboudere’s Playing Days
Before he was wearing a headset, DeLattiboudere was a key contributor on the field for Minnesota. From 2016 to 2019, he appeared in 51 games, tallying 83 tackles and five sacks. He was a steady presence on the defensive line, known for his high motor and leadership - traits that have clearly carried over into his coaching career.
His return to the Big Ten, especially with a rival program like Michigan State, adds an intriguing wrinkle to the Gophers-Spartans dynamic. While the two teams aren’t scheduled to meet again until 2028, there’s no doubt that DeLattiboudere’s move would be felt in Minneapolis.
What This Means for Minnesota
As the Gophers prepare for their upcoming bowl game - the Rate Bowl on December 26 - they’ll do so with some stability on the defensive staff, at least for now. First-year defensive coordinator Danny Collins is expected to remain in place, though Minnesota’s defense did take a step back in 2025.
Head coach P.J. Fleck, who’s a perfect 6-0 in bowl games during his tenure at Minnesota, will look to keep that streak alive before shifting focus to 2026. And while the coaching staff has seen its share of turnover in recent years, Fleck’s ability to develop talent - both on the field and on the sidelines - remains a key part of the program’s identity.
Final Thoughts
Winston DeLattiboudere’s coaching journey is just getting started, but it’s already been impressive. From a standout player at Minnesota to a fast-rising assistant and now a potential Big Ten defensive line coach at a rival program, his trajectory is one to watch. If he does land at Michigan State, it won’t just be a win for the Spartans - it’ll be a reminder of the kind of coaching talent that’s come through the Gophers pipeline.
And for Minnesota, it’s another chapter in the ongoing challenge of keeping rising stars in-house - a challenge that comes with the territory when you’re developing coaches who are clearly built for the big stage.