Michigan State football announces 2 new assistants for Jonathan Smith’s staff

Michigan State football has two new assistant coaches, adding a defensive coach and quarterbacks coach under head coach Jonathan Smith.

The Spartans on Monday announced the hiring of James Adams from Wake Forest to work with their safeties. He will take over that position from secondary coach Blue Adams (no relation), who will assume former assistant Demetrice Martin’s role overseeing cornerbacks.

The school also confirmed Jon Boyer will is leaving Oregon State to coach MSU’s quarterbacks. Spartans offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren was responsible for the quarterbacks last season.

James Adams is a 16-year coaching veteran and Wake Forest alum who has been at his alma mater since 2022 under since-retired coach Dave Clawson. Adams began his career as a graduate assistant in 2009 with the Demon Deacons after winning two letters as a linebacker in 2005-06. He served as associate head coach and safeties coach with Wake Forest last season, and also has made stops at Purdue (2021), Navy (2020), Western Michigan (2019), Charlotte (2011-18) and Wofford (2010).

“James stood out during the interview process as someone who would be a great fit for our staff,” Smith said in a statement. “He has extensive experience coaching defensive backs and has been held in high regard on previous staffs with additional responsibilities as assistant and associate head coach.”

Martin, a former MSU star player and Los Angeles native, left his post as cornerbacks coach to take a similar role at UCLA, where he will be pass game coordinator and oversee the secondary. Martin worked under Blue Adams in his lone season returning to the Spartans after spending 14 seasons coaching on the West Coast.

Boyer moved to tight ends coach last season with the Beavers after Smith and the bulk of his staff left for MSU. Boyer spent the previous six seasons as the Beavers’ quality control coach and senior advisor on offense after serving as offensive coordinator at his alma mater Northern Colorado of the Football Championship Subdivision from 2012-17. Boyer was the Bears’ starting quarterback in 2000-01, then stayed there from 2002-05 and coached quarterbacks in 2004-05 before becoming offensive coordinator at Colorado Mesa from 2007-10.

“In having worked with Jon for several years at Oregon State, he has a thorough knowledge of our offensive scheme and what we’re trying to accomplish on that side of the ball,” Smith said in a statement. “He has strong relationships with our staff, and has done a great job throughout his career of developing and working with quarterbacks.”

As an understudy to Lindgren at Oregon State, Boyer worked with former Beavers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei as well as Aidan Chiles in 2023. Chiles returns in 2025 for his second season as the MSU starter.

That brings Smith’s coaching staff to 11 assistants, one more than the previous limit. The NCAA lifted those limitations in June, permitting any staff member to provide on-field coaching, but only 10 assistants and the head coach are permitted to actively recruit off campus.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.

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