The Michigan State Spartans are hiring Jonathan Smith, the school announced Saturday. Smith has spent the last six seasons leading his alma mater Oregon State where he’s guided the Beavers to 18 wins over the past two seasons. During the 2023 season, he guided the Beavs to a 10-3 record with a No. 17 finish in the AP Top 25, which earned him Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors.
Jonathan Smith had become part of the initial pool of candidates once Michigan State fired Mel Tucker. The former Spartans coach was fired due to some sexual allegations
“Jonathan has a proven track record of success, building the Oregon State program from the ground up by implementing a plan resulting in sustained historic success for the Beavers,” said Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller in announcing the hire. “He’s been a part of championship staffs, coached in the College Football Playoff, and understands what’s required to be successful at the highest level, learning from some of the game’s most successful coaches.”
He’ll be headed to the B1G (Big Ten) where he’ll join Oregon State’s Pac-12 rivals Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington.
Despite the strong season for Oregon State, the former Beaver finished with a 34-35 record at the helm of his alma mater. The 10-win season in 2022 was the first since 2006 and the first Top 25 finish since 2000. Before becoming the head coach in Corvallis, Smith spent six seasons as an assistant under Chris Petersen for the Huskies and Boise State Broncos. He served as the Quarterbacks coach for the latter from 2012-13, then as the QB coach and Offensive Coordinator in Seattle from 2014-17. His time in Seattle included a Pac-12 Championship and College Football Playoff berth during the 2016 season.
With the future of the Pac-12 hanging in the balance, the odds of a rising coach like Smith hanging around were slim. He deserves a chance with a top-tier program and with Michigan State he’ll get that. However, the Spartans have been struggling in recent years.
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