Michigan State reportedly set to hire top staffer away from Oregon
Michigan State is set to hire cornerbacks coach Demetrice Martin away from Oregon, according to a report.
That news was first shared by 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz on Tuesday afternoon. Martin has spent the past 2 seasons as Oregon’s cornerbacks coach and passing game coordinator.
Martin, of course, played for Michigan State from 1992-95. He was selected to the all-conference team as a cornerback in 1994 as he recorded 7 interceptions that season. He totaled 10 interceptions over his final 2 seasons in East Lansing.
Michigan State is hiring Oregon cornerbacks coach Demetrice Martin, sources tell @JustinThind, @C_Robinson247 and me for @247sports.
Before Oregon, worked at places like Colorado. Has coached players like 2023 first-round pick Christian Gonzalez.https://t.co/dJORJ80Uo5 pic.twitter.com/IN1uX9drr8
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 16, 2024
Martin has extensive ties to the west coast. His previous stops include Colorado, Arizona, UCLA and Washington. As the Big Ten expands to include 4 west-coast teams in 2024, Martin figures to be a big asset for Michigan State on the recruiting trail.
Jonathan Smith has been slowly building out his coaching staff after taking the Michigan State job last month. A couple of weeks ago, Smith hired former Indiana co-defensive coordinator Chad Wilt as the program’s co-special teams coordinator and defensive ends coach.
This is a big loss for Oregon, who will now be tasked with landing a new cornerbacks coach. Oregon had the No. 1 pass defensive efficiency rating in the Pac-12 last season.