Michigan State University Vice President and Director of Athletics J Batt announced Sunday that Jonathan Smith will not return as head coach of the Michigan State football program for the 2026 season.
"The 2025 football season has not lived up to our shared standards for Michigan State Football. While that does not fall solely on Jonathan Smith, it's become necessary to make a coaching change in order to chart a new direction for the program," said Batt.
"We are appreciative of Coach Smith and the manner in which he represented Michigan State with class. Throughout a difficult season, the team continued to compete. While their efforts ultimately didn't result in enough on-field success, they do speak highly for their character."
"This was not an easy decision to make," said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. "I want to thank Coach Jonathan Smith for his service to Michigan State University and for his commitment to our student-athletes. He is a man of very high integrity and I wish him success in his future endeavors. We will continue to support our players and staff during this transition and future of Spartan Football."
Smith amassed an on-field record of 9-15 in two seasons on the Spartan sideline. He was hired in November 2023 following a six-year stint at Oregon State, where he guided the Beavers to three straight bowl games.
"Michigan State football has a proud history, a history that includes National Championships, Rose Bowl victories, Big Ten Championships, and a College Football Playoff appearance," continued Batt. "The standards for our program have not changed. It is our expectation that we compete for championships.
"While we will have a new coach next season, we must also do more as a department to support the program. President Guskiewicz and I are fully aligned to take the necessary steps to position our program to compete at the highest level. We are committed to providing an increased level of donor investment, department resources and enhanced infrastructure to effectively and efficiently deploy those resources. Michigan State has an incredibly passionate and loyal fan base, and we will build a program all Spartans can be proud of."
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