Fitzgerald secures key offensive talent, retaining wide receivers and tight ends coaches to reshape Michigan State's attack for the upcoming season.
Every Second Matters
Pat Fitzgerald is hard at work, and for Michigan State’s new head coach, time is of the essence. With no time to waste, Fitzgerald has quickly shifted his focus to building out his offensive staff.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Michigan State is set to hire former Alabama co-offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan as its new offensive coordinator. That move followed a busy stretch in which Fitzgerald locked down key hires on the defensive side of the ball, special teams, and strength and conditioning.
The Spartans added Iowa’s highly respected special teams coordinator LeVar Woods, brought back alum and former Notre Dame linebackers coach Max Bullough as linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator alongside returning defensive coordinator Joe Rossi, and hired Joel Welsh Jr. as the new strength and conditioning coordinator while retaining safeties coach James Adams.
With the first domino now fallen on the offensive side, Fitzgerald has made two more important moves — retaining wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins and tight ends coach Brian Wozniak.
Courtney Hawkins: A Spartan Through and Through
Hawkins is a Michigan State alum who played for the Spartans from 1988–1991. During the 1989 season, Hawkins amassed over 1,000 receiving yards and six touchdowns, cementing himself as one of the program’s top playmakers.
After completing his collegiate career, Hawkins was selected in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played nine seasons in the NFL, spending five years in Tampa Bay from 1992–1996, where he posted a career-high 933 receiving yards in his second season and recorded five touchdowns in both the 1993 and 1994 seasons. In 1996, Hawkins started all 16 games — the only season in which he did so.
Hawkins finished his NFL career with four seasons in Pittsburgh, where he recorded a career-high 66 receptions in 1998. His playing days ended after the 2000 season, but football never left his life.
In 2006, Hawkins returned to the game as the head coach and athletic director at Beecher High School in Flint, Michigan, a role he held until 2019. In 2020, he joined the Michigan State coaching staff and has served as the Spartans’ wide receivers coach for the past six seasons.
Brian Wozniak Brings Championship Pedigree
Wozniak played tight end at Wisconsin from 2009–2014, arriving there after a standout high school career at Loveland High School in Ohio, where he was named second-team All-Ohio and first-team all-conference as a senior.
During his time with the Badgers, Wozniak was part of three Big Ten championship teams. After a brief stint with the Atlanta Falcons, he transitioned into coaching, joining Oregon State as a graduate assistant before being promoted to offensive analyst in December 2017. By July 2018, Wozniak had been elevated to tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator.
In November 2023, Wozniak joined the Michigan State staff as the tight ends coach — a role he now retains under Fitzgerald.
Continuity Matters on Offense
Retaining Hawkins and Wozniak could prove vital for both returning players and incoming newcomers. The wide receiver room has shown flashes of excellence when given opportunities, but over the last two seasons, those chances have been limited due to inconsistent quarterback play.
With a new offensive coordinator and the expectation of improved quarterback play, these position groups — guided by familiar coaches — could become reliable pillars of the offense.
The final major piece still waiting to fall is the offensive line coach, arguably the most important hire remaining. The offensive line was by far the weakest unit last season, and finding the right fit will be critical to any offensive turnaround.
A Gritty Identity Taking Shape
Fitzgerald appears to be building a gritty, tough-minded staff, and retaining Courtney Hawkins and Brian Wozniak fits perfectly into that identity. Continuity, experience, and a strong connection to the program are becoming hallmarks of this rebuild — and every move continues to reinforce that vision.