Kalen DeBoer on new Michigan State OC, Nick Sheridan: 'He is a brilliant mind. He has a big-picture view'

Alabama co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan is returning to the Big Ten to join Pat Fitzgerald’s coaching staff at Michigan State in the role of offensive coordinator.

Sheridan, age 37, spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator at Indiana (2020-2021) before serving in the same role at Alabama in 2024 and 2025. Between coordinator jobs at Alabama and Indiana, Sheridan spent two seasons on Kalen Deboer’s staff at Washington coaching tight ends.  

Sheridan joins Fitzgerald’s staff at Michigan State with four years of experience as an offensive coordinator at the Power 4 level, including three seasons as the offensive play caller, most recently at Alabama (2024) and Indiana (2020-21) before that. Sheridan last served as the offensive play caller for the Crimson Tide two seasons ago while holding the title of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

This past season, Sheridan did not call plays for Alabama. That responsibility rested with co-offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. Moving from Alabama to Michigan State will presumably allow Sheridan the opportunity resume the role of offensive play caller for a Power 4 program.

During his final season at Alabama, Sheridan was instrumental in the success of starting quarterback Ty Simpson, who is regarded as one of the top NFL eligible quarterbacks in the 2026 draft class after throwing for 3,437 yards and 25 touchdowns with just four interceptions at Alabama this season. The job that he did with the development of Simpson should have Michigan State fans excited about what the future may hold with returning starter Alessio Milivojevic and dynamic incoming freshman Kayd Coffman.

Since breaking into the coaching profession as a graduate assistant at Western Kentucky in 2011, Sheridan has cultivated a reputation for player development. During his time at Indiana, Sheridan was instrumental in the development of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix. Prior to that, Sheridan played a significant role in the development of New England Patriots back-up Joshua Dobbs at Tennessee. As a tight ends coach at Indiana and Washington, Sheridan presided over the development of NFL tight ends Peyton Hendershot, Jack Westover, and Devin Culp.

In his role as the offensive play caller for Alabama in 2024, Sheridan oversaw an offense that ranked third in the SEC and No. 22 in the FBS in scoring (33.8). That season, the Crimson Tide offense led the SEC in rushing touchdowns (41) and ranked in the Top 5 nationally. The Alabama passing offense, meanwhile, ranked just outside the Top 25 in 2024. The Alabama pass offense was efficient and effective in the downfield passing game. Alabama ranked in the Top 20 nationally in average per completion.

“He is a brilliant mind. He has a big-picture view and understands the things you’ve got to have for a successful offense, the tools, concepts, formations, wrinkles,” said DeBoer of Sheridan in August of 2024. “He can see defenses and make quick decisions. He is a bright, bright coach … he’s got a bright future not just as an offensive coordinator, but as a head coach someday.”

Sheridan spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator at Indiana in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, with Sheridan as the play caller for Indiana, Penix had a breakthrough season as a Davy O’Brien Award (Best Quarterback) semifinalist and All-Big Ten selection. That same season, Indiana wide receiver Ty Fryfogle was named Big Ten Wide Receiver of the Year.

In 2020, the IU offense ranked Top 5 in scoring among Big Ten teams with Sheridan calling plays. In 2021, the Indiana offense was one of the most potent in the Big Ten until Penix suffered a season-ending injury. Prior to that injury, the Hoosiers led the Big Ten in passing yards, passing touchdowns, pass completions, and explosive pass plays.

Sheridan joined the Washington coaching staff in 2022 after DeBoer took over as head coach. Sheridan had worked under DeBoer at Indiana. At Washington, Sheridan served as tight ends coach for two seasons before following DeBoer to Alabama following the retirement of Nick Saban.  

Sheridan attended Saline High School before joining the Michigan football program as a walk-on quarterback. Sheridan was awarded a scholarship as a junior and started four games with 12 appearances for the Wolverines in 2008.

After graduating from Michigan in 2010, Sheridan returned to Saline where he coached quarterbacks. After a year at Saline, Sheridan began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at Western Kentucky in 2011 on Willie Taggart’s coaching staff. After a year as a GA at Western Kentucky, Sheridan was promoted to quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. He later served in the same capacity for one season under Taggart at South Florida before joining the Tennessee coaching staff as a graduate assistant (2014-2016). After three years at Tennessee, Sheridan was hired as the quarterbacks coach at Indiana in 2017.

Sheridan comes from a football family as the son of Jacksonville Jaguars defensive assistant coach Bill Sheridan, who coached linebackers on Saban’s staff at Michigan State from 1998-2000 before coaching stints at Notre Dame and Michigan. Bill Sheridan made the jump to the NFL in 2005. He broke into the NFL as a linebackers coach with New York Giants. Bill Sheridan later served as defensive coordinator for both the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He returned to coaching college football in 2018 and then moved to the UFL with the Arlington Renegades before taking on his current role with Jacksonville in 2025.