A Michigan State football legend is returning to East Lansing.
According to a report from Jim Comparoni and confirmed by others, Michigan State is bringing Spartan linebacker legend Max Bullough back to be the team’s co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He’s been at Notre Dame for the past few years as a grad assistant and linebackers coach, and he had been earning some major praise for the job he’s done.
Bullough was a rising star in the coaching industry, and Pat Fitzgerald reportedly pulled the trigger and got the Spartan legend back at Michigan State. This is only going to win fans over more.
The former Michigan State linebacker and Big Ten champion led the Spartans in the most successful era since the 1960s under Mark Dantonio. He was the team captain and put up some gawdy numbers before getting a small shot in the pros before returning to college as a coach.
He’ll be working with Joe Rossi as the team’s co-defensive coordinator starting this winter.
The Max Bullough hire is another home run for Pat Fitzgerald
It feels like Fitzgerald is making all the right moves, and the hire of Bullough is only the latest in a string of moves that has won the fanbase over.
First, he gave a killer intro press conference, and then he signed a pretty complete 2026 recruiting class, all things considered. Next, he got some key players to return, namely Alessio Milivojevic and Brady Pretzlaff. And last week, he retained Rossi and James Adams on the defensive coaching staff. Now, he’s adding Bullough to the mix.
Bullough is just the cherry on top after bringing back two key defensive coaches, and the fact that he’s going to be co-defensive coordinator with Rossi has to make fans feel better.
The Spartans are starting to form a defensive identity through the coaching staff that’s built on toughness and hard work. Max is going to bring it from day one.
If Fitzgerald really wants to win the fanbase over, he should consider bringing Courtney Hawkins back, and that will mark a second Spartan legend on the staff — and one of the best receivers coaches in the Big Ten.