MSU OL Coach Michalczik, Coach Smith Go Way Back

Michigan State football coach Jonathan Smith's first hire upon joining the Spartans' program was offensive line coach Jim Michalczik, a man he has known for many years.

While Michalczik was one of the coaches Smith brought with him from Oregon State, the offensive line coach was familiar with the former Oregon State head coach long before Smith added him to his coaching staff going into his first year as the Beavers' head coach.

Smith played quarterback for Oregon State from 1998-99 to 2001-02, the same period Michalczik spent his first stint coaching as an assistant for the Beavers.

"He was not the tallest quarterback, very level-headed, but very, very competitive," Michalczik said when he spoke to reporters on Tuesday. "I think some people don't realize the competitiveness in him. And for me, we had never worked together. I mean he was a player when I was a coach -- I was a young coach back then, I had more hair. Much more.

"But the person he was, the competitiveness he was, and when he got the head job at Oregon State and asked me to join him, to me, it was a no-brainer. I just want to be with good people and have a chance to win. And being with him and being here I think is both those things."

In his junior season, Smith helped lead the Beavers to their best season in program history with an 11-1 record that included a 41-9 trouncing of Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, in which he won the game's MVP.

Michalczik was one of six assistants Smith brought with him from Oregon State. That familiarity, along with his staff's track record, has helped Smith be able to trust his staff.

"Well, I have some big-picture, philosophical thoughts on teaching that the staff hears, and then that filters down to the players," Smith said on Tuesday. "But we've got a big-time staff. These guys know what they're doing in regards of teaching, experience, been in the big leagues and won big games before. I haven't had to do too much with this staff."

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