Former Michigan State assistant coach lands at SEC program
Michigan State football has a mostly brand new coaching staff in 2024, but pieces of the Spartans’ previous staff under Mel Tucker are landing at various jobs all over the country.
On Monday, former MSU offensive line and associate head coach Chris Kapalovic was hired by Alabama to coach the same position under first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer, who replaced Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa following a two-year stint at Washington. Kapilovic’s move comes just two months after he accepted the offensive line coach position at Baylor.
Kapalovic spent four seasons in East Lansing with the Spartans and was the third-highest paid assistant coach on staff, earning over $1 million annually. The 55-year-old built strong relationships with players at Michigan State and was an effective recruiter, adding depth to a position that was thin when he inherited it. On the field, the Spartans’ offensive line improved every season against opponents’ pass rush, but Michigan State struggled to run the ball during Kapilovic’s tenure under Mel Tucker.
Most will remember Kapilovic for the run game woes in his last two seasons at Michigan State, but he left the Spartans with some young talent in the trenches. In 2024, under new offensive line coach Jim Michalczik, MSU will likely start Ethan Boyd, Brandon Baldwin and Geno VandeMark along the offensive line, three players Kapilovic recruited to Michigan State out of high school. Redshirt freshmen Cole Dellinger and Stanton Ramil, each of whom were four-star prospects recruited by Kapilovic in the 2023 class, remain on the Spartans roster as well.
On various social media platforms, several Michigan State fans were shocked to learn Kapilovic was hired at Alabama after watching the Spartans’ offensive line struggle the last two seasons. However, Kapilovic’s recruiting and development skills make him a valuable asset for any coaching staff, and he is loved by former players.
Of Michigan State’s 10 on-field assistant coaches this past season, only wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins was retained by new MSU head coach Jonathan Smith. Six other members of the Spartans previous staff have landed new jobs:
Secondary coach and interim head coach Harlon Barnett is now coaching defensive backs at Northwestern. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson was hired for the same position at Wyoming, as was running backs coach Effrem Reed at South Alabama and defensive line coach Diron Reynolds at Arizona State. Cornerbacks coach Jim Salgado is now a defensive assistant for the NFL’s Washington Commanders.
Former Michigan State defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton, special teams coordinator Ross Els and tight ends coach Ted Gilmore each remain unemployed at the time of publication.
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