Jonathan Smith opens up on why Michigan State was the right opportunity for him

It took a lot for Jonathan Smith to leave Corvallis after being the first graduate, let alone a former star quarterback, of Oregon State to lead their football program. Even so, Michigan State was, in his mind, the right opportunity to make such a decision for himself.

Smith highlighted what made the Spartans’ job as the right one for him during his introductory press conference in East Lansing. In his opinion, Michigan State had everything from the standpoints of people, assets, and commitment that made this the opportunity that he wanted to go for.

“I thought a lot of what I value? Which, wherever I’m at, I’m going to value these things. Again, the family piece, the community network, a passionate fanbase. The opportunity to win, the resources available to win, the community that is invested to win,” Smith listed off. “I think all of that was here.”

“That was brewing in my mind,” said Smith.

Smith played for Oregon State over four seasons from 1998 to 2001. In 39 appearances, he threw for over 9,100 yards and 52 touchdowns on a 50.4% completion rate. By the time he finished his career, he was second all-time in passing yards and touchdowns. That was before Derek Anderson and Sean Mannion pushed him to fourth in both categories.

In his three full seasons as a starter, the program went 23-12 and made a pair of bowl appearances including a victory in the Fiesta Bowl in 2000.

After a decade and a half as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, including one as a graduate assistant at Oregon State, Smith took over the Beavers’ program in 2017. He underwent a complete rebuild as he took a 2-10 finish into 2018 and turned it into an an 18-7 record in 2022 and 2023.

Overall, he left Oregon State with a record of 34-35 in his six seasons as head coach. Essentially all of that came over the past three years as the Beavers have gone 25-13 since 2021.

Now, as he takes over at Michigan State, Smith has another rebuild ahead of him. He’s leaving his old one behind and committing to this new one, though, because of what all the Spartans have to offer moving forward.

Joel Klatt: Jonathan Smith was the perfect guy for Michigan State

Joel Klatt believes Michigan State hit a home run in hiring now-former Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith as their next leader.

Klatt elaborated on the hire during his show. He explained why he believes the new Spartans head coach was simply the “perfect guy for Michigan State”.

“This is a great hire,” Klatt said. “I feel really bad for Oregon State. I’m sure it was hard for Jonathan to leave. But with where they’re at? And where they’re headed? With no spot to land in conference realignment? I don’t think that he had any other choice. Now, he goes to Michigan State and he’s a perfect guy for Michigan State. In a lot of ways, he plays the way that Michigan State wants to play, and has played, in order to be successful. He has been really good at Oregon State developing a physical, run-oriented, tough team. He has done it at a place that’s hard to do. So Jonathan Smith at Michigan State, I feel like, is a really good fit.”

“He was 34-35 as the Oregon State’s head coach. 18-7 over the last two seasons after coming in there when they were just like the dregs, man. They didn’t have anything going for them and he built them into what they are now.”