Michigan State names Chad Wilt rush ends coach, co-special teams coordinator
Michigan State football has named former Indiana co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, Chad Wilt, as the program’s rush ends coach and co-special teams coordinator. The move—which was rumored earlier in the week—was officially announced on Thursday morning.
“Chad Wilt is a proven defensive coach who has mentored and developed multiple all-conference and NFL players,” said Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith in the school’s press release. “He has a familiarity with our defensive coordinator Joe Rossi and has previously coached at three different schools in the Big Ten Conference. He also has experience as a special teams coordinator and understands the importance of that phase of the game. I’m excited to have Chad and his family join our staff in East Lansing.”
Wilt—who comes to East Lansing after two seasons with the Hoosiers—will work alongside defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa.
The Carlisle, Pa., native has spent 23 seasons coaching college football. Wilt began his coaching career working with the defensive line and special teams unit at Central Connecticut State University from 2001-03.
From there, Wilt would move on to a graduate assistant role at Virginia. After two seasons with the Cavaliers (2004-05), Wilt was hired as defensive line coach and special teams coordinator at Liberty. Wilt spent three seasons at Liberty (2006-08) before returning to Virginia as defensive line coach.
Following the 2008 season, Virginia head coach Al Groh was fired. Wilt was not retained on the subsequent staff, and took a role at Richmond coaching the defensive line.
The following year, Wilt accepted the defensive line job at Ball State where he would spend three seasons (2011-2013). He would jump back into the Power Five level being named Maryland’s defensive line coach in 2014. Wilt spent two seasons (2014-15) with the Terrapins prior to joining the staff at Army West Point in the same role.
After three seasons at West Point, Wilt joined Luke Fickell’s staff at Cincinnati where he would spend the 2019 season working with the Bearcats’ defensive line.
Wilt is the ninth on-field assistant and fourth defensive assistant hired to head coach Jonathan Smith’s inaugural coaching staff. He joins a defensive staff led by coordinator Joe Rossi, who will also work with the Spartan linebackers. The two coached together at Minnesota from 2020-21.
In coordination with NCAA guidelines—which allows for ten on-field assistant coaches, in addition to a program’s head coach—Michigan State’s final on-field assistant role remains unfilled currently. Sources tell SpartanMag.com that the opening will likely be used on a second defensive backs coach, working in tandem with secondary coach Blue Adams.
