Michigan State football is making a ton of hires to their coaching staff this weekend, shoring up their staff before transfer portal season gets under way, and as the roster retention process continues to take form.
Hank Poteat is the focus of the Spartans latest hiring decision, as Pat Fitzgerald and Joe Rossi are expected to hire him as a defensive backs coach, according to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz. We are anticipating that this will be as the team’s cornerbacks coach, as James Adams has been announced as the safeties coach.
The 48-year old Poteat was a standout at Pitt before being a third round NFL Draft pick in 2000. He went on to have a very successful 10-year NFL career. His NFL stats include 210 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 4 interceptions.
Following his playing days, Poteat has taken up coaching, where he has had success coaching defensive backfields at many levels. Most notably, he has spent the last five years split between Wisconsin and Iowa State.
RESUME:
- Kentucky Christian (2011–2012): Defensive backs coach
- Pittsburgh (2013–2014): Graduate assistant
- Kent State (2015–2016): Cornerbacks coach
- Toledo (2017–2020): Cornerbacks coach
- Wisconsin (2021–2022): Cornerbacks coach
- Iowa State (2023–present): Cornerbacks coach
Michigan State is targeting Iowa State’s Hank Poteat for a defensive backs coach job, sources tell @CBSSports.
Poteat, who played 10 years in the NFL as a defensive back, worked at Iowa State under Matt Campbell the last three years. Before that, worked at Wisconsin. pic.twitter.com/F4j1WzGTVr
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 20, 2025
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Rex_Linzy
This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Michigan State tabbing NFL vet, power conference coach for CBs coach
