Pat Fitzgerald made some big-time moves this offseason regarding coaching staff hires and Michigan State fans appreciated that he swung for the fences a couple of times.
Michigan State’s new offensive coordinator, Nick Sheridan, and defensive coordinator, Joe Rossi, weren’t the flashiest hires, but the staff around them is what’s standing out.
On the offensive staff, you have Nick Tabacca, Courtney Hawkins, and Brian Wozniak who I believe might be the three best recruiters that Fitzgerald has. Tabacca landed Michigan State’s top-ranked 2027 commit a couple of weeks ago, Hawkins is constantly in the mix for top talent, and Wozniak is closing in on a four-star in-state tight end who’s committing over the weekend.
On the defensive side, Fitzgerald hired Max Bullough as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach as well as Winston DeLattioboudere III is an energetic young coach who’s in charge of the defensive line. The youthful energy on the staff is contagious and some of these hires were absolute home runs.
The best hire on the staff may not be on either side of the ball, but rather on special teams.
LeVar Woods is the Big Ten’s best special teams coach
Fitzgerald poached long-time Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods and many are touting this as the best assistant coaching hire on his staff and one of the best poaches in the Big Ten.
Woods is already earning some elite respect.
According to Matrix Analytical, which shares metrics for other college football-related ratings, Michigan State has the No. 1 special teams coaches in the Big Ten by a wide margin.
Top 5 Special Teams Coaches in the #B1G @LeVarWoods #Spartans @CoachJShibest #BoilerUp @RobbyDischer #Buckeyes @CoachDaPrato #Gophers @CoachJoeLorig #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/Uf2WxITVcC
— Matrix Analytical (@CFBAnalytical) June 23, 2026
Surprisingly, the team projected to finish last in the Big Ten (Purdue) has the conference’s second-best special teams coach. Per this ratings system, however, Purdue’s James Shibest is closer to fifth place on the list than to Woods at No. 1 overall. That’s just how good Michigan State’s next special teams coach is and that’s not even a hot take.
Anyone who’s watched college football over the past decade knows that Iowa has had some of the best special teams units in the country consistently. That should now shift to Michigan State.
Woods is going to have a talented kicker in Liam Boyd from Charlotte, one of the best punters in the Big Ten in Rhys Dakin, and all that’s left is figuring out the return and coverage games. If there’s anyone that’s going to turn Michigan State’s special teams around, it’s Woods.
We’ll find out in a few months just how great of an assistant coach that he is.
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