Smith Announces Two New Hires to Michigan State Coaching Staff
1/6/2025 10:30:00 AM | Football
James Adams named safeties coach; Jon Boyer named quarterbacks coach.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State head football coach Jonathan Smith has announced two new hirings on his coaching staff.
James Adams will join the defensive staff as safeties coach, while Jon Boyer will be the program's quarterbacks coach.
"We are excited to welcome James Adams and Jon Boyer to East Lansing," said Smith. "James stood out during the interview process as someone who would be a great fit for our staff. 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. He will work well alongside Coach Blue Adams in the secondary.
"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. He has strong relationships with our staff, and has done a great job throughout his career of developing and working with quarterbacks."
Offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren, who also served as MSU's quarterbacks coach last season, will continue to lead the Spartan offensive staff, which includes assistant head coach/running backs coach/co-special teams coordinator Keith Bhonapha, wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins, offensive line coach/run game coordinator Jim Michalczik and tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator Brian Wozniak.
Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Joe Rossi heads the defensive staff, along with secondary coach Blue Adams, defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa and rush ends coach/co-special teams coordinator Chad Wilt.
JAMES ADAMS' BIO
James Adams has coached defensive backs for the past 16 seasons since beginning his coaching career in 2009 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in Wake Forest. He spent the past three seasons (2022-24) at Wake Forest as the safeties coach and helped two Demon Deacons get selected in last year's NFL Draft (Malik Mustapha, fourth round, 49ers; Sanoussi Kane, seventh round, Ravens). This past season, Adams mentored safety Nick Anderson, who led the ACC with 122 tackles and had two interceptions to earn third-team All-ACC honors.
Prior to getting drafted, Mustapha garnered second-team All-ACC honors in 2023 along with a Senior Bowl invite after collecting 80 tackles. He has started in 11 of 15 games for the 49ers this season with 71 tackles, five passes defended and one interception. Kane has played in 14 games for the playoff-bound Ravens.
During Adams' first season back in Winston-Salem, the Demon Deacons won eight games and played in their school-record seventh consecutive bowl game, picking up a win over Missouri in the Gasparilla Bowl. Chelen Garnes, who signed as an undrafted free agent with the Lions in 2024, and Mustapha ranked third and fourth on the team in tackles with 71 and 58, respectively, and combined for 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles.
Adams has previous Big Ten experience, coaching cornerbacks at Purdue in 2021 as the Boilermakers won nine games, finished tied for second in the Big Ten West Division, and beat Tennessee in the Music City Bowl. Purdue ranked 33rd in the FBS in passing defense (208.7 ypg) and fourth in the conference with 13 interceptions.
He spent one season as the cornerbacks coach at Navy in 2020, coaching the Midshipmen to the top passing defense in the American Athletic Conference, allowing just 180.8 yards per game through the air. Adams also spent one year (2019) at Western Michigan as the cornerbacks coach, helping the Broncos reach the First Responder Bowl while mentoring third-team All-MAC cornerback Patrick Lupro.
Adams was one of five staff members to start the football program at Charlotte, serving as the team's secondary coach while assisting with special teams as the 49ers rose from the FCS level to the FBS level in Conference USA during his eight years (2011-18) with the school. The 49ers regularly ranked among the nation's and C-USA's leaders in pass defense during his tenure, and he was promoted to assistant head coach during his final season in 2018. In the program's first season in 2013, Charlotte ranked 25th in the FCS with 15 interceptions, and in 2016, the 49ers led C-USA and ranked 14th in the FBS with 16 picks. Under the guidance of Adams, Ben DeLuca earned Freshman All-America honors in 2016, led the nation in forced fumbles in 2017, and finished first on the team in tackles in 2018 en route to playing for the Chargers during the 2021 NFL season.
After a two-year playing career at Wake Forest (2004-05) as a linebacker, Adams began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Demon Deacons in 2009 after spending the 2008 season as a recruiting assistant. His first full-time coaching position came at Wofford as the cornerbacks coach in 2010, where he helped the Terriers to the 2010 Southern Conference title with the league's top passing defense, before going to Charlotte to start the 49ers program.
THE ADAMS FILE
FAMILY: Wife Tori, daughter Londyn, son Royce.
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:
• Graduate assistant at Wake Forest (2009)
• Cornerbacks coach at Wofford (2010)
• Secondary/assistant special teams coach at Charlotte (2011-17)
• Secondary/assistant head coach at Charlotte (2018)
• Cornerbacks coach at Western Michigan (2019)
• Cornerbacks coach at Navy (2020)
• Cornerbacks coach at Purdue (2021)
• Safeties coach at Wake Forest (2022-23)
• Associate head coach/safeties coach at Wake Forest (2024)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
College – Two-year letterwinner as a linebacker at Wake Forest (2005-06).
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree from Wake Forest in 2006.
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE:
• 2019 First Responder Bowl (Western Michigan)
• 2021 Music City Bowl (Purdue)
• 2022 Gasparilla Bowl (Wake Forest)
JON BOYER BIO
Jon Boyer is familiar with Smith and the Spartan offensive staff, spending six seasons (2019-24) at Oregon State, including five under Smith and Lindgren as a quality control coach and senior advisor on the offensive side of the ball. He was OSU's tight ends coach during the 2024 season and helped mentor Jermaine Terry II, who ranked second on the team in receiving yards (375) and tied for fourth in receptions (23), both of which were career highs.
The Beavers offense had sustained success with Boyer on staff in Corvallis. Oregon State averaged 31.8 points per game and 409.2 yards of total offense in 2023 while earning a bid to its third straight bowl game (Sun Bowl vs. Notre Dame). In 2022, OSU averaged 32.2 points per game and 396.0 yards of total offense as the Beavers went 10-3, beat Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl, and finished the season ranked No. 17 in the national polls. During the 2021 season, Oregon State set a single-season record averaging 6.4 yards per play; that Beaver squad totaled 5,581 yards overall, fourth-best at Oregon State in a 13-game season. Individually, Boyer worked with several NFL players at Oregon State, including quarterback Jake Luton and running back Jermar Jefferson.
Prior to his time at Oregon State, Boyer spent eight seasons (2011-18) at Northern Colorado, including seven as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2012-18) after returning to Greeley as the QB coach in 2011. He was also promoted to associate head coach in 2018. Boyer mentored quarterback Seth Lobato, who set nearly every passing record in school history and is still UNC's all-time leading in touchdown passes (53), passing yards (8,090) and completions (637). Boyer's offenses in 2016 and 2017 ranked among the FCS leaders, including passing (No. 13 in 2017 with 280.9 ypg; No. 24 in 2016 with 260.6 ypg), scoring (No. 15 in 2017 with 34.3 ppg) and total offense (No. 25 in 2017 with 417.8 ypg).
Boyer, who was a two-year letterwinner as a quarterback (2000-01) at Northern Colorado, played in 22 games for the Bears, passing for 4,529 yards and 32 touchdowns, which still rank among the best totals in school history.
After earning his degree in sport and exercise science in 2002, Boyer began his professional career on UNC's strength and conditioning staff (2002-03) before landing his first coaching job as the Northern Colorado's quarterbacks coach during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. He then coached four seasons at Colorado Mesa (2007-10) as the offensive coordinator before moving back to Northern Colorado in 2011.
THE BOYER FILE
FAMILY: Wife Vanessa, son Beau, daughter Ava
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:
• Assistant strength and conditioning coach at Northern Colorado (2002-03)
• Quarterbacks coach at Northern Colorado (2004-05)
• Offensive coordinator at Colorado Mesa (2007-10)
• Quarterbacks coach at Northern Colorado (2011)
• Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Northern Colorado (2012-17)
• Associate head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Northern Colorado (2018)
• Quality control coach/senior offensive advisor at Oregon State (2019-23)
• Tight ends coach at Oregon State (2024)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
College – Two-year letterwinner as a quarterback at Northern Colorado (2000-01).
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in sport and exercise science from Northern Colorado in 2002; Master's degree in pedagogy.
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE:
• 2021 LA Bowl (Oregon State)
• 2022 Las Vegas Bowl (Oregon State)
• 2023 Sun Bowl (Oregon State)
James Adams will join the defensive staff as safeties coach, while Jon Boyer will be the program's quarterbacks coach.
"We are excited to welcome James Adams and Jon Boyer to East Lansing," said Smith. "James stood out during the interview process as someone who would be a great fit for our staff. 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. He will work well alongside Coach Blue Adams in the secondary.
"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. He has strong relationships with our staff, and has done a great job throughout his career of developing and working with quarterbacks."
Offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren, who also served as MSU's quarterbacks coach last season, will continue to lead the Spartan offensive staff, which includes assistant head coach/running backs coach/co-special teams coordinator Keith Bhonapha, wide receivers coach Courtney Hawkins, offensive line coach/run game coordinator Jim Michalczik and tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator Brian Wozniak.
Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Joe Rossi heads the defensive staff, along with secondary coach Blue Adams, defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa and rush ends coach/co-special teams coordinator Chad Wilt.
JAMES ADAMS' BIO
James Adams has coached defensive backs for the past 16 seasons since beginning his coaching career in 2009 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in Wake Forest. He spent the past three seasons (2022-24) at Wake Forest as the safeties coach and helped two Demon Deacons get selected in last year's NFL Draft (Malik Mustapha, fourth round, 49ers; Sanoussi Kane, seventh round, Ravens). This past season, Adams mentored safety Nick Anderson, who led the ACC with 122 tackles and had two interceptions to earn third-team All-ACC honors.
Prior to getting drafted, Mustapha garnered second-team All-ACC honors in 2023 along with a Senior Bowl invite after collecting 80 tackles. He has started in 11 of 15 games for the 49ers this season with 71 tackles, five passes defended and one interception. Kane has played in 14 games for the playoff-bound Ravens.
During Adams' first season back in Winston-Salem, the Demon Deacons won eight games and played in their school-record seventh consecutive bowl game, picking up a win over Missouri in the Gasparilla Bowl. Chelen Garnes, who signed as an undrafted free agent with the Lions in 2024, and Mustapha ranked third and fourth on the team in tackles with 71 and 58, respectively, and combined for 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles.
Adams has previous Big Ten experience, coaching cornerbacks at Purdue in 2021 as the Boilermakers won nine games, finished tied for second in the Big Ten West Division, and beat Tennessee in the Music City Bowl. Purdue ranked 33rd in the FBS in passing defense (208.7 ypg) and fourth in the conference with 13 interceptions.
He spent one season as the cornerbacks coach at Navy in 2020, coaching the Midshipmen to the top passing defense in the American Athletic Conference, allowing just 180.8 yards per game through the air. Adams also spent one year (2019) at Western Michigan as the cornerbacks coach, helping the Broncos reach the First Responder Bowl while mentoring third-team All-MAC cornerback Patrick Lupro.
Adams was one of five staff members to start the football program at Charlotte, serving as the team's secondary coach while assisting with special teams as the 49ers rose from the FCS level to the FBS level in Conference USA during his eight years (2011-18) with the school. The 49ers regularly ranked among the nation's and C-USA's leaders in pass defense during his tenure, and he was promoted to assistant head coach during his final season in 2018. In the program's first season in 2013, Charlotte ranked 25th in the FCS with 15 interceptions, and in 2016, the 49ers led C-USA and ranked 14th in the FBS with 16 picks. Under the guidance of Adams, Ben DeLuca earned Freshman All-America honors in 2016, led the nation in forced fumbles in 2017, and finished first on the team in tackles in 2018 en route to playing for the Chargers during the 2021 NFL season.
After a two-year playing career at Wake Forest (2004-05) as a linebacker, Adams began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Demon Deacons in 2009 after spending the 2008 season as a recruiting assistant. His first full-time coaching position came at Wofford as the cornerbacks coach in 2010, where he helped the Terriers to the 2010 Southern Conference title with the league's top passing defense, before going to Charlotte to start the 49ers program.
THE ADAMS FILE
FAMILY: Wife Tori, daughter Londyn, son Royce.
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:
• Graduate assistant at Wake Forest (2009)
• Cornerbacks coach at Wofford (2010)
• Secondary/assistant special teams coach at Charlotte (2011-17)
• Secondary/assistant head coach at Charlotte (2018)
• Cornerbacks coach at Western Michigan (2019)
• Cornerbacks coach at Navy (2020)
• Cornerbacks coach at Purdue (2021)
• Safeties coach at Wake Forest (2022-23)
• Associate head coach/safeties coach at Wake Forest (2024)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
College – Two-year letterwinner as a linebacker at Wake Forest (2005-06).
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree from Wake Forest in 2006.
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE:
• 2019 First Responder Bowl (Western Michigan)
• 2021 Music City Bowl (Purdue)
• 2022 Gasparilla Bowl (Wake Forest)
JON BOYER BIO
Jon Boyer is familiar with Smith and the Spartan offensive staff, spending six seasons (2019-24) at Oregon State, including five under Smith and Lindgren as a quality control coach and senior advisor on the offensive side of the ball. He was OSU's tight ends coach during the 2024 season and helped mentor Jermaine Terry II, who ranked second on the team in receiving yards (375) and tied for fourth in receptions (23), both of which were career highs.
The Beavers offense had sustained success with Boyer on staff in Corvallis. Oregon State averaged 31.8 points per game and 409.2 yards of total offense in 2023 while earning a bid to its third straight bowl game (Sun Bowl vs. Notre Dame). In 2022, OSU averaged 32.2 points per game and 396.0 yards of total offense as the Beavers went 10-3, beat Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl, and finished the season ranked No. 17 in the national polls. During the 2021 season, Oregon State set a single-season record averaging 6.4 yards per play; that Beaver squad totaled 5,581 yards overall, fourth-best at Oregon State in a 13-game season. Individually, Boyer worked with several NFL players at Oregon State, including quarterback Jake Luton and running back Jermar Jefferson.
Prior to his time at Oregon State, Boyer spent eight seasons (2011-18) at Northern Colorado, including seven as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2012-18) after returning to Greeley as the QB coach in 2011. He was also promoted to associate head coach in 2018. Boyer mentored quarterback Seth Lobato, who set nearly every passing record in school history and is still UNC's all-time leading in touchdown passes (53), passing yards (8,090) and completions (637). Boyer's offenses in 2016 and 2017 ranked among the FCS leaders, including passing (No. 13 in 2017 with 280.9 ypg; No. 24 in 2016 with 260.6 ypg), scoring (No. 15 in 2017 with 34.3 ppg) and total offense (No. 25 in 2017 with 417.8 ypg).
Boyer, who was a two-year letterwinner as a quarterback (2000-01) at Northern Colorado, played in 22 games for the Bears, passing for 4,529 yards and 32 touchdowns, which still rank among the best totals in school history.
After earning his degree in sport and exercise science in 2002, Boyer began his professional career on UNC's strength and conditioning staff (2002-03) before landing his first coaching job as the Northern Colorado's quarterbacks coach during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. He then coached four seasons at Colorado Mesa (2007-10) as the offensive coordinator before moving back to Northern Colorado in 2011.
THE BOYER FILE
FAMILY: Wife Vanessa, son Beau, daughter Ava
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:
• Assistant strength and conditioning coach at Northern Colorado (2002-03)
• Quarterbacks coach at Northern Colorado (2004-05)
• Offensive coordinator at Colorado Mesa (2007-10)
• Quarterbacks coach at Northern Colorado (2011)
• Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Northern Colorado (2012-17)
• Associate head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Northern Colorado (2018)
• Quality control coach/senior offensive advisor at Oregon State (2019-23)
• Tight ends coach at Oregon State (2024)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
College – Two-year letterwinner as a quarterback at Northern Colorado (2000-01).
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in sport and exercise science from Northern Colorado in 2002; Master's degree in pedagogy.
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE:
• 2021 LA Bowl (Oregon State)
• 2022 Las Vegas Bowl (Oregon State)
• 2023 Sun Bowl (Oregon State)
Jonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Sep. 15 2025
Monday, September 15
Jonathan Smith Post Game Comments | YSU | Sep. 13 2025
Saturday, September 13
Jonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Sep. 8 2025
Monday, September 08
Jonathan Smith Post Game Comments | BC | Sep. 7 2025
Sunday, September 07