Michigan State Football: 3 things to know about new DC Scottie Hazelton

Michigan State football has officially hired Scottie Hazelton away from Kansas State to be the new defensive coordinator.

It’s official, Michigan State has hired Scottie Hazelton as its next defensive coordinator, making him the fourth such coach since 2014 for the Spartans.

Pat Narduzzi set the bar high during his time in East Lansing and he was followed by solid co-coordinators Harlon Barnett and Mike Tressel. There has been plenty of success on that side of the ball and Hazelton will look to continue that with Barnett as his defensive backs coach and Tressel likely coaching linebackers.

Hazelton has bounced around quite a bit and most recently spent a season with Kansas State as defensive coordinator on Chris Klieman’s staff and turned the Wildcats around immediately. This guy will be an absolute fan favorite.

Let’s learn a little more about Michigan State’s new defensive coordinator.

3. This isn’t his first time in the state of Michigan

Surprisingly, Scottie Hazelton has been in the state of Michigan before as a coach. No, it wasn’t recent nor was it a long stint, but he spent time as the linebackers coach at Michigan Tech back in 2006. During that season, Michigan Tech went just 6-4, but his presence was felt.

Hazelton earned the job at Michigan Tech after a couple of successful seasons as defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Missouri Southern State.

The new defensive coordinator from the home state of Colorado is also your typical country guy who likes to hunt and fish. There’s a good chance he’ll fit right in with the amount of hunting he can do up north and how much beautiful scenery there is in the state.

And then there’s this perfect comment from his wife when asked if he hunts wolverines.

https://twitter.com/coacheschica/status/1233462445034831872?s=20

Michigan State has a tough defensive coordinator who has spent time in the state before and the hope is that he makes this stint longer than the previous one.