Michigan State names Joe Rossi defensive coordinator and linebackers coach
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State football head coach Jonathan Smith announced Joe Rossi as Secchia Family defensive coordinator and linebackers coach on Thursday. The two-time Broyles Award nominee, which is given annually to the top assistant coach in college football, joins the Spartan program from Minnesota, where he held the same role for five seasons.
“Joe Rossi has been nationally recognized for constructing one of the best defenses in the nation over the past few seasons,” Smith said in a press release Thursday. “He has extensive experience in all areas of the defense throughout his career and has developed all-conference players and NFL Draft picks. He is also very familiar coaching in the Big Ten Conference. I’m excited to have Joe and his family join our staff in East Lansing.”
Rossi has spent the previous seven season on the Gophers’ coaching staff. Beginning as a quality control assistant in 2017, Rossi was promoted to defensive line coach the following season. Rossi took over as interim defensive coordinator in November 2018. Three weeks later, Minnesota head coach PJ Fleck removed the interim tag, making Rossi the Gophers’ full-time defensive coordinator and linebackers.
Rossi began his coaching career in 2001 at Thiel College in Greenville, Pa., working with the defensive line. After two seasons as defensive line coach, he was promoted to defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He would hold that role for the next four seasons before accepting the special teams coordinator job at Maine.
Rossi would spend the next five seasons at Maine. He worked with the special teams unit from 2007-2008, before taking over as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He would leave Maine following the 2011 season to join Chris Ash’s staff at Rutgers.
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Rossi was on staff at Rutgers for four seasons. He joined the Scarlet Knights’ coaching staff in 2012 as special teams coordinator. In 2014, he was elevated to defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
As a player, Rossi was a record-setting defensive end at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. He started 41 games from 1997-2000, earning All-NCAC three times. Rossi tied the school’s single season sack record with 12 his senior season.
Michigan State’s defensive staff is now up to three on-field assistants with the addition of Rossi. The Spartans announced Blue Adams as secondary coach and Legi Suiaunoa as defensive line coach on Dec. 7. Both Adams and Suiaunoa were on Smith’s staff at Oregon State.
Sources tell SpartanMag.com that former Michigan State interim head coach and longtime assistant, Harlon Barnett, will be retained as safeties coach.
