Michigan State has a new coach running the defense in East Lansing.

The school announced over the weekend that co-defensive coordinator Mike Tressel has been elevated to the position on a full-time basis. At the same time, the school announced Paul Haynes as secondary coach.

Tressel has been on staff with head coach Mark Dantonio for the past 14 seasons, including all 11 in East Lansing. After three seasons serving as co-DC, the time was right for Tressel to be rewarded with the full-time job, according to Dantonio.

“Mike has done a tremendous job working with the defense,” said Dantonio in a prepared statement. “He’s been deeply involved with everything with the defense since we first arrived here, and has helped coach some championship defenses that have been ranked consistently among the best in the nation, year in and year out. He did a great job as co-coordinator the past three years. He’s certainly earned this opportunity and I think he’ll do an outstanding job.”

Haynes comes over from Kent State, where he was the head coach the previous five seasons for the MAC program. Haynes previously served as the secondary coach for MSU in the 2003-04 seasons.

“We’re very, very excited about Paul,” said Dantonio. “He’s coached here before so he’s got a Spartan background. He was secondary coach and co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State, so he’s coached on the highest level with the secondary. He was a defensive coordinator at Arkansas as well. He’s been a head coach at Kent State, so I think that gives him a big picture feel. I think he’s an excellent recruiter. He’s a dynamic person as well, so we’re excited to have him on campus.”