Pat Fitzgerald hasn’t wasted any time making his mark in East Lansing. Since taking over as Michigan State’s head coach, he’s been assembling a staff that reflects both ambition and experience-and his latest reported move might be his most impressive yet.
According to reports, Michigan State is expected to hire LeVar Woods as Assistant Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator. If that name rings a bell, it should.
Woods has built a reputation as one of the premier special teams minds in college football during his long tenure at Iowa, where he’s not only coached but also played. And if you’re wondering how good his units really are, just ask the Spartans-they saw it up close in their late-season loss to the Hawkeyes, where Iowa’s special teams were clearly a difference-maker.
Woods has been with Iowa’s staff since 2012, and over that stretch, he’s consistently fielded special teams units that rank among the nation’s best. All-Americans, game-changing plays, field position dominance-you name it, Woods’ units have delivered it.
This isn’t just a solid hire; it’s a statement. Michigan State isn’t just trying to rebuild-they’re trying to compete, and Fitzgerald is pulling in high-caliber talent to make that happen.
What makes this move even more notable is that Woods is an Iowa alum. Pulling a coach from his alma mater-especially one so deeply entrenched in the program-is no small feat. It speaks volumes about what Fitzgerald is building at Michigan State and the kind of culture he’s selling to potential staffers.
And make no mistake, Fitzgerald is working with a little more financial firepower than his predecessor. Reports indicate that Michigan State’s assistant coaching pool got a roughly $2 million boost compared to what was available under Jonathan Smith. Fitzgerald is putting that money to work, and the early returns are impressive.
Already, he’s brought in Max Bullough from Notre Dame, a move that raised eyebrows considering the Irish reportedly made a strong push to keep him. Now, with Woods reportedly on board, Fitzgerald is stacking his staff with proven developers of talent and respected voices in the locker room.
Defensively, the Spartans are shaping up with Bullough and Joe Rossi as co-defensive coordinators and James Adams coaching the safeties. Joel Welsh has been tapped to run the strength and conditioning program. And if Woods’ hire becomes official, Fitzgerald will have added a coach with head coaching potential of his own to help lead the charge.
There’s still work to be done on the offensive side of the ball, but the foundation Fitzgerald is laying on defense and in the locker room is rock solid. He’s not just filling roles-he’s building a staff that can recruit, develop, and compete in the Big Ten right away.
Michigan State fans have reason to be excited. This isn’t just a coaching transition-it’s a reset with purpose. And with Fitzgerald at the helm, the Spartans are signaling that they’re ready to punch above their weight again.