On Tuesday, the Michigan State Spartans announced that they had agreed to a seven-year, $7.25 million contract with former Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith. Smith, who was the offensive coordinator at Washington from 2014-2017, will take over as the Spartans’ head coach for the 2019 season.
The Spartans have been looking for a new head coach since Mark Dantonio stepped down in February. Smith is the first head coach hired by the Spartans since then.
Smith has a long history of success in college football. He was the offensive coordinator at Oregon State for four seasons, leading the Beavers to three bowl games and two Pac-12 championships. He was also the quarterbacks coach at Washington for three seasons, helping lead the Huskies to a College Football Playoff appearance in 2016.
Michigan State is hoping that Smith can bring his winning pedigree to East Lansing and help turn around a program that has struggled in recent years. The Spartans have not had a winning season since 2016 and have not won a bowl game since 2014.
Smith is known for his high-powered offense and is expected to bring an up-tempo style of play to Michigan State. He has also been praised for his ability to develop quarterbacks, which could be beneficial for the Spartans, who have had inconsistent play at the position in recent years.
Michigan State is hoping that Smith can help restore the program to its former glory. With his experience and success, Smith could be the perfect fit for the Spartans.
