Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald is making waves in his staff assembly, with reports indicating that Iowa State’s Hank Poteat is the primary target for the Spartans’ cornerbacks coach position. The move, first reported by 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz on December 20, 2025, comes as Fitzgerald and defensive coordinator Joe Rossi look to bolster a secondary that needs reinforcement heading into 2026.
Poteat, a former NFL defensive back who played 10 seasons and won Super Bowl XXXIX with the New England Patriots, has spent the last three years as Iowa State’s cornerbacks coach under Matt Campbell. His units have earned a reputation for discipline, physicality, and elite man-coverage skills—helping the Cyclones rank among the Big 12’s top pass defenses with strong technique and ball production.
This hire fits Fitzgerald’s vision of building a tough, gritty defense in East Lansing. Poteat’s experience developing talent at Wisconsin (2021-22) and Toledo further underscores his track record, where his groups consistently produced all-conference performers and contributed to top-10 national rankings in total defense.
With James Adams already retained as safeties coach, adding Poteat would split the secondary duties effectively, allowing specialized focus on the corner position—a critical need after recent roster turnover via the transfer portal.
Spartan fans are buzzing about the potential addition, seeing Poteat’s NFL pedigree and proven coaching acumen as a step toward elevating MSU’s pass defense in the competitive Big Ten. His emphasis on fundamentals and attention to detail aligns perfectly with Fitzgerald’s culture of resilience and improvement.
As Fitzgerald continues rounding out his staff amid portal season, this targeted hire signals aggressive intent to rebuild quickly. Go Green— the secondary is about to get a major upgrade! 🟢⚪
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