Michigan State TEs Coach Brian Wozniak Talks Big Ten

Much of Michigan State's coaching staff was brought over with Coach Jonathan Smith from Oregon State, which can pose questions as to whether the new regime is ready for Big Ten football.

Spartans tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator Brian Wozniak is quite familiar with the Big Ten, having played four seasons as a tight end at Wisconsin, but the new Michigan State coach is confident the rest of the coaching staff is prepared for a new conference.

"We've been fortunate; we got Joe Rossi, we got Chad [Wilt], we got a couple guys that have been through it," Wozniak said. "I mean, [Coach Demetrice Martin] played here -- I know he's been on the West Coast but played here. So, it's not all fallen onto my shoulders.

"Coach Smith studied it. If you guys know anything about Jonathan Smith, he's going to be about five steps ahead of you. I've tried; you try to pin him down and he's always got something.

"So, he's studying it and doing what he needs to do. For me, it's just -- every day, you come in with a smile because you're kind of back in these roots and shoot, my family's coming up this weekend, we got another set of family coming up next weekend. We didn't get that luxury when we were out west."

Wozniak spent four active seasons as a tight end at Wisconsin. The Badgers played the Spartans five times while he was there.

Wozniak said he knew "right away" that he wanted to be a coach.

"I was pretty fortunate to have an all-time high school coach, Andrew Marlatt [Loveland High School in Ohio]," he said. " ... And through the recruiting process, I had an awesome coach in Joe Rudolph. Paul Chryst was the OC at the time.

"Those personalities kind of surrounding me and the way they did it, it just -- it influenced me to want to get into this thing. And I knew kind of early on in college -- freshman, sophomore year -- like, man, I love ball. I know sports, right? I don't want to go sit in an office and wear a suit. This is what I want to do.

"And just this connection, right? With these kids out here. Even a new set of kids -- don't know all of them, right? But man, diving into them, that's what makes this profession fun."

The Michigan State Spartan Football Spring Green and White Game (Spring Showcase) will be held at the High Cathedral of the Spartan Nation, Spartan Stadium, on April 20, 2024, at 2 p.m.

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