Get to Know the New Michigan State Football Coach, Jonathan Smith

A new era at Michigan State University has arrived. The university has named Jonathan Smith the new MSU head football coach. I'm personally stoked about this move, as a graduate from MSU. Out of all the candidates MSU was considering, I felt Smith had the best record. I also felt he could bring the most to the Spartans.

The news of Smith coming to MSU broke Friday night (Nov. 24). However, MSU didn't confirm it. Moreover, then news broke that his current home, Oregon State, was trying to re-sign him. Then, on Saturday (Nov. 25), MSU formally announced that Smith is the university's new head coach.

"Today is an exciting day for Michigan State as we welcome Jonathan Smith, wife Candice, and children Robert, Bella and Charles to our Spartan family," MSU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Alan Haller said in a press release from MSU. "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. 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."

The MSU press release praised Smith, stating, "On the field, his teams are tough and physical, yet innovative. This year, Oregon State has controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, ranking among the nation's leaders in both rushing offense and rushing defense. He's shown not only the ability to recruit talented student-athletes who fit his system, but also to develop and maximize players once they're in the program. At his core, he's a quarterbacks coach, and throughout his career he's been instrumental in the development of young quarterbacks, which is essential in today's college football landscape."

Get to know the new Michigan State University head football coach Jonathan Smith with these fun facts below. What's more, check out our NFL football pod here.

According to a press release form MSU, Smith has a total of 151 Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll selections in his first five seasons. That shows he cares about the academics of his players, not just their on-field performance.

Smith was born in 1979 and is 44 years old, making him an "Xennial," in between a Millennial and Gen-Xer. According to a release, he has coached seven All-Americans during his OSU tenure, including six the past two seasons in 2021 and 2022 (WR/PR Anthony Gould, LB Jack Colletto and OL Taliese Fuaga in 2022; LB Avery Roberts, RB B.J. Baylor and OL Nathan Eldridge in 2021).

According to MSU, 8 Beavers have been drafted under Smith and 17 have signed as undrafted free agents. Earlier this year, MSU explains that "tight end Luke Musgrave became the highest-drafted OSU player in nine years as he was picked in the second round (No. 41 overall) by the Green Bay Packers."

Smith joined Oregon State as a walk-on in the late 1990s. He came back to his alma mater as head coach on Nov. 29, 2017. Before then, he served as offensive coordinator at Washington.

Smith is a busy guy when it comes to family. He has three children: Robert, Bella and Charles. His wife is named Candice.

He holds a bachelor's degree in liberal studies from Oregon State in 2001. He was also a four-year letterwinner as a quarterback at Oregon State (1998-2001).

He's 34-35 in six seasons as head coach at Oregon State. He was there from 2017 to 2023.