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Jonathan Smith says Michigan State move was a long time coming
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Jonathan Smith mentioned the national brand of Michigan State as an attractive part of the Spartans’ offer to him, and he also said his decision to leave Oregon State and take over as the Spartans’ head coach was a long time coming.
Smith met with reporters Sunday night shortly after he landed at Capital Region International Airport in Lansing, Michigan. He said he was “hugely excited” about the opportunity in front of him and that he was thorough in his own vetting process of the program.
Oregon State faced Oregon last Friday night at Autzen Stadium in Eugene with a chance to spoil its rival’s Pac-12 championship hopes for a second consecutive season. The Beavers couldn’t make the title game with a win, but they could at least keep Oregon out of it. They were blown off the field, 31-7.
Rumors of Smith being the target for MSU emerged well before the game. Reports surfaced just hours before kickoff that Smith was going to be the guy.
“I felt confident, to be honest with you, but I did want to sleep on it one more night,” Smith said when asked when he knew he was taking the job. “In my mind, it’s been a long time.”
Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes released a statement last week that claimed he was in talks with Smith on a contract extension and an increased assistant coach salary pool. Immediately after the loss to Oregon, Smith answered a question about his future by saying things were still up in the air.
“No decisions have been made,” he told reporters Friday night. “I’ve been locked in for the last four months.”
Saturday morning, he took the Michigan State job.
“Where we’re at in our career, the ages of my kids, the national brand that is Michigan State, all of that was really intriguing to me,” Smith said Sunday evening.
Smith is reportedly bringing offensive line coach Jim Michalczik with him to Michigan State, though no official announcement has been made on that front. Others are expected to follow him, but he told reporters Sunday night nothing has been finalized.
“Hugely excited,” Smith said. “Competing at the national level. I think this has a national brand here at Michigan State. So, we couldn’t be more excited.”
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.