Harlon Barnett promotes TJ Hollowell into assistant coaching role at Michigan State
Michigan State has promoted defensive analyst TJ Hollowell into an assistant coaching role interim head coach Harlon Barnett announced on Friday. With Hollowell filling the role of 10th assistant coach on the Spartan coaching staff in the wake of Mel Tucker’s indefinite suspension without pay.
Former head coach Mark Dantonio, who was named associate head coach by Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller during the same press conference in which Barnett was tabbed as interim head coach, will function in an advisory role to Barnett.
“Mark Dantonio is an excellent football coach and it’s been great having him back in the building this week,” Barnett said in statement on Friday. “Coach D brings the calming presence, the wisdom, and the knowledge of being a head coach. He is a tremendous resource for our staff and players and is willing to help with all aspects of the operation.”
As a member of the Michigan State coaching staff for the past four seasons, Hollowell is better equipped to handle the role of on-field assistant than Dantonio. As a 10th assistant coach, Hollowell will also be able to go on the road for recruiting purposes.
“In terms of the coaching staff, after evaluating our immediate needs this week, we felt that it was best served for Coach D to help in an advisory role and for TJ Hollowell to be our 10th on-field assistant coach,” Barnett said. “TJ has knowledge of our defensive schemes and personnel having been on staff for four seasons, which provides the most seamless transition for our program. As the 10th on-field assistant, TJ can go on the road recruiting, and has done so for our program previously. I’m confident in our coaching staff and I appreciate all of the hard work everyone is putting in with our players and program.”
Hollowell worked with the Houston Texans organization this off-season as part of the Bill Wash Diversity coaching fellowship.
An All-Big XII performer as a linebacker at Nebraska (2000-03), Hollowell had a brief NFL career with the Jets, Giants, and Broncos before finishing his professional career in the CFL. Hollowell began his coaching career in high school in Texas before returning to Nebraska as a graduate assistant. After three years as a GA at Nebraska, Hollowell served as the linebackers coach at Youngstown State. Hollowell went on to coach defensive line at Coast Carolina for three seasons before joining the Michigan State coaching staff as a defensive analyst in 2020.
Hollowell’s promotion is one of several changes that Barnett has made since taking over as the program’s interim head coach. This is the first structural change that Barnett has made to the Spartan coaching staff.
Barnett has made it clear by his actions this week that he is not simply going through the motions. He has shown initiative in taking steps to strengthen team unity, while keeping the focus on football. Earlier this week, Barnett brought back player-led team prayer to the practice. Pre-practice player-led prayer and post-game player-led prayer were both staples of the Dantonio era at Michigan State. Pre-practice and post-game prayer cultivate a sense of community and reinforce team unity.
The same is true of the pre-game walk from the Kellogg Center to Spartan Stadium, another Dantonio era practice that has been reinstituted by Barnett his week. And don’t be surprised if there are symbolic efforts to cultivate team unity moving forward.
