EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University has named Jonathan Smith as its new head football coach.
Smith, who has led Oregon State for the past six seasons, will be introduced as the university's 26th head football coach at a press conference on campus early next week.
“Jonathan has a proven track record of success, building the Oregon State program from the ground up by implementing a plan resulting in sustained historic success for the Beavers," said MSU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Alan Haller. "He’s been a part of championship staffs, coached in the College Football playoff, and understands what’s required to be successful at the highest level, learning from some of the game’s most successful coaches."
Smith has been named the 2022 Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year and led Oregon State to become one of the top teams in the conference. He also has coaching experience from the College Football Playoff as an offensive coordinator at Washington in 2016.
“He’s shown not only the ability to recruit talented student-athletes who fit his system, but also to develop and maximize players once they’re in the program," Haller said. "At his core, he’s a quarterbacks coach, and throughout his career he’s been instrumental in the development of young quarterbacks, which is essential in today’s college football landscape."
Smith's hire still needs formal approval from the MSU Board of Trustees at a future meeting.
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