Michigan State Rush Ends Coach Chad Wilt Talks Transition to New Role, New Program

Michigan State rush ends coach Chad Wilt has had a smooth transition to his new role, thanks to his familiarity with coaches around him.

A new regime means a lot of change for everyone involved -- not just the players but also the coaches.

Fortunately for Michigan State football's coaching staff, many of the new Spartan coaches have familiarity with one another, as several followed Coach Jonathan Smith over from Oregon State.

Michigan State rush ends coach Chad Wilt is one of the few who doesn't have that luxury, but that has not mattered under Smith's guidance.

"The transition's been phenomenal because of Coach Smith, right?" Wilt told media members after the Spartans' spring practice on Tuesday. "It started right there. Just his leadership, his direction, his vision for the program, but within that, also his ability to give us autonomy, us as coaches, to be able to install and teach the way you want to has been really -- I don't want to say refreshing -- but invigorating, I guess, would be a good way to say it."

Wilt does, however, have a different role on the defensive side of things than what he had at Indiana, where he served as defensive coordinator, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He is now coaching rush ends, which, of course, is much more specific compared to the whole defensive line, a unit he has also had years of experience coaching. What helps, though, is Wilt's familiarity with Michigan State defensive coordinator Joe Rossi, who Wilt coached with during his time at Minnesota.

Wilt said knowing Rossi's scheme and teachings "made that transition also very easy."

"They've done some new things and different things, but 90% of it's: 'Oh, yeah, this is what we did previously. I got it. Yep, understand that,'" Wilt said. "And now, it allowed me to go back [and say]: 'Now, how can I teach it better?' ... When I was with Joe [Rossi] before, I had all four of those down guys with one of the graduate assistants helping me. Now I'm a little bit unique at how we've divided the staff here; I can take that rush end position and just dive into that and really ... getting one-on-one teaching instruction with those guys that are out there."

The Michigan State Spartan Football "Spring Showcase" will be held at the High Cathedral of the Spartan Nation, Spartan Stadium, on April 20, 2024, at 2 p.m.

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