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Michigan State Football: Don Treadwell hire makes sense for Spartans

By Connor Muldowney

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 28: Head coach Mark Dantonio looks on after defeating the Washington State Cougars 42-17 in the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 28: Head coach Mark Dantonio looks on after defeating the Washington State Cougars 42-17 in the SDCCU Holiday Bowl at SDCCU Stadium on December 28, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Some people might be a little hesitant to celebrate the re-hiring of Don Treadwell with Michigan State football, but it just makes sense.

One of Mark Dantonio’s former assistants who left on his own to become the head coach of Miami (OH) is now back with Michigan State. Don Treadwell was the offensive coordinator for the Spartans from 2007-10, even acting as an interim coach for a game when Dantonio suffered a heart attack and couldn’t be on the sidelines.

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Treadwell saw a lot of success leading Michigan State’s offense before getting the job offer to be head coach at his alma mater. Leaving was essentially a no-brainer despite Miami (OH) not being the most prestigious program.

The former Michigan State assistant went 8-21 in two and a half seasons before getting fired and hired to Kent State’s staff under Paul Haynes — another new Michigan State assistant of the defensive backs, replacing Harlon Barnett.

With the departure of Haynes from Kent State, Treadwell was also let go and Dantonio needed to fill a 10th assistant role — as well as voids best behind by Harlon Barnett and Mark Snyder. On Monday, Dantonio announced the re-hiring of Treadwell to his staff.

The move might not be popular to some as people want the program to move forward and not back, but Treadwell knows Dantonio well and there was a point in time when people believed he would be the replacement for Coach D when he retired.

Treadwell returns to coach special teams and help with defensive backs while also being a coach specifically for freshmen (new role) and offensive consultant. The latter role has to be music to Spartan fans’ ears as they feel as if the offense needs some direction outside of Dave Warner. Either way, it’s good to have a familiar face who helped the Spartans reach 10-plus wins for the first time under Dantonio back on the staff.

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Like the hire or don’t, but Dantonio is building an impressive staff in East Lansing with a couple of former head coaches and there’s still one spot left to be filled.

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