<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2A0hKb_0qEY1hxk00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2A0hKb_0qEY1hxk00" width="1200" height="675" ><a href="https://247sports.com/coach/Jonathan-Smith-1601">Jonathan Smith</a> has plucked a sitting Big Ten defensive coordinator to serve in the same role on his first Michigan State football staff. <a href="https://247sports.com/coach/Joe-Rossi1682">Joe Rossi</a>, who has worked as Minnesota’s D-coordinator since 2019, has been hired as the Spartans’ new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.A 44-year-old Pittsburgh native, Rossi was on staff at Minnesota since 2017, working his way to interim defensive coordinator in 2018 and taking over the position full-time from 2019 on. With Rossi on board, MSU now has filled eight of its 10 spots on Smith’s on-field assistant-coaching roster."Joe Rossi has been nationally recognized for constructing one of the best defenses in the nation over the past few seasons," Smith said in a press release. "He has extensive experience in all areas of the defense throughout his career and has developed all-conference players and NFL Draft picks. He is also very familiar coaching in the Big Ten Conference. I'm excited to have Joe and his family join our staff in East Lansing."The previously-hired defensive assistants set to work under Rossi include secondary coach Blue Adams and defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa, both of whom followed Smith from Oregon State.Rossi started at Minnesota as a quality control coach in 2017. He then moved over to coaching the defensive line the next season before taking on interim defensive coordinator duties in November 2018. Rossi was named the full-time DC after that and continued as the linebackers coach the rest of the way.During his time in Minneapolis, Rossi was twice nominated for the Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant coach in the country, and led three units that finished in the top-10 nationally in total defense. He helped produce 10 NFL Draft picks, two first-team All-Americans and 30 All-Big Ten performers with the Golden Gophers.Prior to Minnesota, Rossi served as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Rutgers from 2014-15 and worked as the Scarlet Knights’ special teams coordinator from 2012-13. A former defensive lineman at Allegheny College, Rossi’s resume also includes stints at Maine (2007-11) and Thiel College (2001-06).Get the latest info on Michigan State football, basketball and recruiting sent straight to your inbox. Just enter your email address <a href="https://247sports.com/college/michigan-state/distribution/signup">HERE</a> to sign up for our free Spartans newsletter now!</div></body>

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Michigan State football hires Joe Rossi away from Minnesota to be defensive coordinator

Jonathan Smith has plucked a sitting Big Ten defensive coordinator to serve in the same role on his first Michigan State football staff. Joe Rossi, who has worked as Minnesota’s D-coordinator since 2019, has been hired as the Spartans’ new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. A 44-year-old Pittsburgh...