On Saturday, it was reported that Joe Rossi was set to be retained as the school’s defensive coordinator under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Rossi will be keeping another one of his assistants around, too.
James Adams, who served as the team’s safeties coach in 2025, will be retained on the defensive staff.
Prior to coming to East Lansing, Adams spent three seasons (2022-24) at Wake Forest as a safeties coach. The rest of his career was spent at Purdue (2021), Navy (2020), Western Michigan (2019) and Charlotte (2011-2018).
It is unclear if Adams will get full control of the defensive backfield, or if he will continue just working with the safeties, but after one season, his tenure continues in East Lansing.
Michigan State will also retain assistant coach James Adams. He was the safeties coach on the last staff.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 6, 2025
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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: James Adams will be retained on Michigan State football’s staff
