REPORT: How Safe is Coach Jonathan Smith’s Job?

Michigan State hired Coach Jonathan Smith after multiple seasons of poor player performances and after a disappointing end to the tenure of its former head coach. Coach Smith took over a spiraling Michigan State football program in hopes of rebuilding it, similar to how he helped rebuild his alma mater’s football program at Oregon State. 

Smith and his coaching staff accepted arguably one of the most challenging jobs in the country. Upon Smith’s arrival, Michigan State’s football program had many things working against it. Michigan State’s football team was filled with the previous coaching staff’s players, meaning a large portion of those players would be unlikely to stay and play for a new coach, regardless of who the coach was. 

This led to numerous Michigan State players entering the transfer portal simultaneously. Smith and his coaching staff would lose many key players to the transfer portal, including multiple quality starters. They would recover nicely, proving that few other coaches would have been as prepared to coach Michigan State’s football team as Smith.

When Smith took the job at Michigan State, he and the powers that be fully understood the reality of rebuilding a college football program. Rebuilding a college football program as a head coach requires multiple years of a new coach implementing their ideals, strategies, and recruiting practices en route to building the program as the new coach envisions it. While it has been a challenging start to Smith’s tenure at Michigan State, he and his coaching staff have handled things well and seemingly are on the right track.