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

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IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 17: Offensive tackle Landon Lechler #78 of the North Dakota State Bisons celebrates midfield after the upset over the Iowa Hawkeyes on September 17, 2016 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

2. Hazelton was defensive coordinator of an FCS powerhouse

After landing his first coaching job just a couple of years out of college at his alma mater Fort Lewis, Scottie Hazelton was offered an opportunity to branch out and he jumped at it. He became a graduate assistant at North Dakota State in 2000-01 and the Bison went 19-5 during his first stint with the FCS power.

Hazelton then went to St. Olaf as a defensive backs coach, Missouri Southern State as defensive coordinator and then Michigan Tech as linebackers coach before heading back to North Dakota State as a defensive line coach in 2007.

The 46-year-old coordinator was defensive line coach for the Bison until 2009 when he was promoted by Craig Bohl to defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2010 until 2011. In that final season as defensive coordinator for the Bison, North Dakota State won the FCS national title and went 14-1 — and that’s also when he met Chris Klieman who hired him at Kansas State.

During his time as North Dakota State’s defensive coordinator, the Bison went 23-6. In his final season with the Bison, he led them to the No. 1 scoring defense in the country as well as the 20th-ranked overall defense. He helped kick-start a run of eight national titles in nine years.

That stint with the Bison earned him a job with the USC Trojans, Nevada, Jacksonville Jaguars and eventually Wyoming.

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