Spartan DNA Returns: Pat Fitzgerald Reunites Michigan State with Max Bullough in Co-DC Role

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You can’t waste any time in today’s college football landscape. No matter what you’re trying to accomplish, placing something on the back burner rarely leads to the success you want. That sense of urgency speaks volumes for Michigan State’s new head coach, Pat Fitzgerald, who wasted no time making a splash by bringing former Spartan star Max Bullough back to East Lansing in a Co-Defensive Coordinator and linebackers coach role. Multiple reports confirmed the move, with On3 being the first to break the news

Bullough arrives at Michigan State after serving as the linebackers coach at Notre Dame, a program that created headlines of its own after declining to participate in a bowl game following a season in which it narrowly missed the College Football Playoff. The Fighting Irish finished 10-2 and were widely expected to make the playoffs, but the committee left them out, igniting controversy about playoff criteria and conference advantages. Despite that drama, Notre Dame’s defensive unit remained one of the nation’s strongest, thanks in part to Bullough’s coaching.

Last season, Bullough helped guide the Irish all the way to the national title game before falling short to Ohio State. His track record as a coach reflects what he displayed as a player: toughness, discipline, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Michigan State fans aren’t thinking about the playoffs after a year that saw only one conference victory and a brutal eight-game losing streak, but Fitzgerald is clearly thinking ahead. By retaining current defensive coordinator Joe Rossi and pairing him with Bullough in a Co-DC setup, Fitzgerald is signaling that building an elite defense is priority number one.

Max Bullough isn’t just a former standout—he’s a program icon and part of a true Spartan legacy family. Bringing him back home gives Michigan State more than just a talented defensive mind; it gives them a powerful recruiting tool. Bullough understands what it means to “bleed green and white” on a level only a former Spartan warrior can. Young prospects who grew up watching him dominate in East Lansing may now have the chance to learn directly from him, creating a natural pipeline of buy-in and belief.

During his MSU career, Bullough compiled:

  • 299 tackles (29th all-time in program history)
  • 30.5 tackles for loss (15th all-time)
  • 8 sacks
  • 3 interceptions
  • 4 forced fumbles
  • 40 starts in 53 games played

After going undrafted, he tallied 56 tackles in 30 games across three NFL seasons with the Houston Texans.

This hire brings a needed jolt of energy and authenticity to a team that looked flat for most of the season. Bullough’s passion, leadership, and Spartan DNA should make an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball and on the recruiting trail. Now, the next major task for Fitzgerald is assembling the right offensive staff—one capable of elevating Alessio Milivojevic and the rest of the Spartans’ offensive unit several levels.

MSU just got tougher overnight, and with Bullough back in the fold, the Spartans may finally have the spark they’ve been missing.

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