It’s always funny how quickly things can change in sports. About 30 minutes prior to writing this, I wrote a piece on an offensive line coach that was gaining some traction in Michigan State circles. Adam Cushing, Pat Fitzgerald’s former offensive line coach at Northwestern, was rumored to be the top candidate to fill that position in East Lansing.
Thirty minutes later, Michigan State has reportedly hired someone else.
While Cushing could still be a future option, Fitzgerald and the Spartans are reportedly expected to hire former Wake Forest offensive line coach Nick Tabacca.
NEWS: #MichiganState is set to hire Wake Forest OL coach Nick Tabacca, sources tell @mzenitz.
— Justin Thind (@JustinThind) December 24, 2025
The Columbus (OH) native spent the last 12 years as WF’s o-line coach & added an AHC title ‘24.
Most recently developed elite NFL OT Zach Tom.
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Tabacca isn’t a name that was on many Michigan State fans’ radars, but Fitzgerald worked quickly and is reportedly set to hire him to replace Jim Michalczik who coached the offensive line under Jonathan Smith. Before him, it was Chris Kapilovic that led Michigan State’s offensive line under Mel Tucker.
This unit has been disappointing for years.
Tabacca is tasked with fixing that.
Nick Tabacca brings a strong track record to Michigan State
While I’m still laughing at the fact that I was hyping up a different offensive line coach about an hour ago, I’m sold on Tabacca as Fitzgerald’s guy.
The veteran offensive line coach was at Wake Forest for over a decade and he was partially responsible for building some of the best offenses in program history. According to his Wake Forest profile, his transformation of the offensive line was “astounding”. He helped Wake Forest break numerous records, and the offense was one of the best in the ACC while he was there under Dave Clawson.
Tabacca developed several All-ACC and All-American linemen, but the most impressive was probably Zach Tom, Green Bay’s starting offensive tackle. He also helped develop Matt Gulbin who transferred to Michigan State after Tabacca parted ways with Wake Forest in 2024.
Getting a guy who knows how to develop players into elite talent and pave the way for effective run games is something Michigan State fans were wishing for. Tabacca is that guy.
It looks like Christmas came a little early for Michigan State fans with the Jordan Hall news and now this.