On Monday, Michigan State head football coach Mark Dantonio officially announced the hiring of new co-offensive coordinator Jim Bollman. It will be Bollman’s second stint on the Michigan State coaching staff, returning to East Lansing 16 years after he spent three seasons under Nick Saban as an offensive line coach from 1995-1997.
After those three years at Michigan State, Bollman spent three more in the NFL from 1998-2000 before returning to the college ranks in 2001 at Ohio State. There he spent 11 years as the offensive coordinator/offensive line coach of the Buckeyes, directing an offense that went to three national championships during his tenure there, including the 2002 National Championship victory over Miami(FL), coaching alongside Dantonio, who was the defensive coordinator for Ohio State at the time.
Bollman makes the move to the Spartans after spending last year as offensive line/running game coordinator at Boston College.
(Photo Courtesy– buckeyextra.dispatch.com)
“This is the fourth time in my career that I’ve had an opportunity to work with Jim Bollman, so there’s definitely a comfort level there,” Dantonio said. “He has a tremendous amount of football knowledge, especially on the offensive side of the ball. In addition to serving as co-offensive coordinator, Jim will coach the tight ends, and he spent three years coaching that position in the NFL. He also has long-standing recruiting ties in Ohio. We’re excited about having Jim and his family back in the MSU community.”
In addition to the hiring of Jim Bollman, Dantonio also announced several other coaching changes within the Michigan State coaching staff on Monday, including naming defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi assistant head coach as well.
“No one has officially held that position before on my staff, but in Pat Narduzzi’s case, it’s certainly warranted,” Dantonio said. “When I’m not in the office, Pat takes control of the day-to-day operation. He’s held those duties for the last two years, but without the formal title.”
But the coaching changes didn’t stop there as former quarterbacks coach Dave Warner will join Bollman as the other co-offensive coordinator of the Spartans and former running backs coach Brad Salem takes over as quarterbacks coach and leaves the running backs to Warner.
While it is unclear whether Warner or Bollman will call the majority of the plays, it certainly is an interesting shake up for the Michigan State football program, who made the moves after former offensive coordinator Dan Roushar bolted for the NFL to become running backs coach for the New Orleans Saints.
“We might simplify some things, yet become more diversified as an offense,” Dantonio said. “Throughout the spring, things will be added and subtracted from the offense. Changes aren’t being made for the sake of change; changes are being made with a purpose.”
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