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Marco Coleman reportedly leaving Michigan State for Georgia Tech

On3 imageby:Paul Konyndyk•01/04/23•

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Last February, Michigan State defensive line coach Marco Coleman left his alma mater Georgia Tech to join Mel Tucker’s coaching staff. Eleven months later, Coleman is reportedly leaving Michigan State and returning to Georgia Tech where he will presumably coach the defensive line.

News of Coleman’s potential hire by Georgia Tech was broken by GT beat writer Kelly Quinlan.

Coleman held the title of defensive line coach and rushing defense coordinator at Michigan State. He joined the Spartan coaching staff after three seasons at Georgia Tech, where he held the role of outside linebackers coach.

Michigan State hired Coleman to replace longtime defensive line coach Ron Burton, who was fired from the Spartan program after nearly a decade as an assistant coach for the Spartans. Burton is currently the defensive line coach at Miami (OH) University. Tucker hired Coleman to oversee the Spartan defensive line not long after bringing Brandon “BT” Jordan into the program in a unique role as a pass-rush coach. Jordan’s presence on the Michigan State coaching staff should give the defensive line some continuity while Tucker searches for a replacement for Coleman.

The Michigan State defensive line experienced a great deal of adversity and attrition during the 2022 season. Injuries were significant problem for the Spartan defensive line with leaders like Jacob Slade and Jeff Pietrowski sidelined for long stretches of the season. Florida transfer Khris Bogle was also sidelined by injuries. During the second half of the season attrition also impacted the Spartan d-line, as key contributors like Jacoby Windmon, Zion Young, and Brandon Wright were unavailable due to suspension.

In the absence of those players, Avery Dunn, Jalen Hunt, and Dashaun Mallory answered the call as stand ins. Dunn is the only one of those players remaining at Michigan State, as both Hunt and Mallory entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Defensive line was one of the biggest focal points of Michigan State’s 2023 recruiting class. Michigan State’s defensive line class is bedrock of a Top 25 recruiting class.

Coleman played 14 seasons in the NFL after being drafted in the first round by the Miami Dolphins. After retiring from professional football in 2005, Coleman spent more than a decade working in the field of finance. Coleman began coaching with the Oakland Raiders (2018) before being hired by Georgia Tech in 2019.

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