Max Bullough - Football Coach - Michigan State University Athletics

Max Bullough

Title:
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
Email:
football@msu.edu
Phone:
355-1647

Former Spartan All-Big Ten linebacker Max Bullough joined Pat Fitzgerald's coaching staff in December 2025 as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

"Max Bullough embodies Spartan toughness," said Fitzgerald. "I coached against him when he led some of the best defenses in school history at Michigan State under Mark Dantonio, and he has continued to showcase his football knowledge by coaching at some of the best programs in the country after his NFL playing career. He will undoubtedly inspire our players to play with maximum effort. I'm excited to start working with Max and we welcome him back to East Lansing."

Bullough helped coach one of the best defenses in the nation the past three seasons (2023-25) at Notre Dame as the Fighting Irish compiled a 34-7 record and reached the National Championship in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff against Ohio State. He arrived to South Bend as a defensive graduate assistant in 2023 and was promoted to the full-time staff as linebackers coach beginning in 2024.

During Notre Dame's run to the national title game last season, Bullough mentored Jack Kiser, a Campbell Trophy finalist who led the team with 90 tackles and was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by Jacksonville. UND finished the 2024 season ranked No. 1 in the nation with 33 turnovers gained and also No. 4 in scoring defense (15.5 ppg) and No. 11 in total defense (307.4 ypg). This past season, Notre Dame finished No. 11 in the FBS in rushing defense (99.3 ypg), No. 13 in scoring defense (17.6 ppg) and No. 23 in total defense (312.7 ypg). As a graduate assistant in 2023, Bullough coached two NFL Draft picks in Marist Liufau (third round, Cowboys) and JD Bertrand (fifth round, Falcons).

Prior to his time at Notre Dame, Bullough coached for three seasons (2020-22) as a defensive graduate assistant at Alabama under Hall of Fame Coach Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide recorded a 37-4 record while Bullough was working in Tuscaloosa, including two CFP title game appearances (2020, 2021) and a National Championship in 2020. Bullough coached several All-SEC linebackers at Alabama, headlined by Will Anderson, a two-time All-American and first-round NFL Draft pick by the Texans who won the Lombardi Award, Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy and Lott IMPACT Trophy as a senior in 2022.

Bullough began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Cincinnati in 2019.

A third-generation Spartan, Bullough joins a long family history of coaching and playing at Michigan State. His grandfather, Hank, spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach under College Football Hall of Famer Duffy Daugherty (1959-69) and later one season under George Perles in 1994. Hank, who was also a three-year letterwinner from 1952-54, was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013. Max's father, Shane, played linebacker at Michigan State from 1983-86 and was a first-team All-Big Ten honoree and team captain as a senior. Max's two younger brothers, Riley (2013-16) and Byron (2015-18), also played linebacker for the Spartans. In addition, his uncles Chuck Bullough (linebacker, 1988-91) and Bobby Morse (running back, 1983-86) were Spartan football letterwinners, and Chuck spent two seasons on Mark Dantonio's staff as a defensive ends coach in 2018-19.

A two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection by the league's head coaches (2012, 2013), Bullough ranked among the team leaders in tackles (third with 76), quarterback hurries (tied for second with 10) and tackles for loss (third with 9.5) on Michigan State's Big Ten Championship team in 2013 as the Spartans ranked No. 2 in the FBS in total defense and rushing defense and No. 3 in scoring defense. He was also named one of 20 quarterfinalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and earned All-America honors from Phil Steele (second team), The Associated Press (third team) and Lindy's (third team).

Bullough led the Spartans in tackles as a sophomore (89 in 2011) and junior (career-high 111 in 2012) and was voted a team captain twice by his teammates.

The Traverse City, Michigan, native recorded 299 career tackles in 53 games, including 40 consecutive starts at middle linebacker. He ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in tackles for loss (15th with 30.5 TFLs for 103 yards) and tackles (19th with 299). Bullough posted double-figure tackles seven times during his career, and also was credited with 11 passes defended (three interceptions, eight pass break-ups) and four forced fumbles.

Bullough is one of only nine players in program history to earn multiple Academic All-America honors. The finance major, who posted a 3.56 grade-point average and graduated in 2014, garnered first-team honors in 2013 after landing on the second team in 2012. He was also a National Football Foundation Campbell Trophy finalist in 2013.

Following his collegiate career at Michigan State, Bullough spent three seasons in the NFL with the Houston Texans, playing in 30 games from 2014-16.

THE BULLOUGH FILE
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:
Defensive graduate assistant at Cincinnati (2019)
Defensive graduate assistant at Alabama (2020-22)
Defensive graduate assistant at Notre Dame (2023)
Linebackers coach at Notre Dame (2024)

PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
College: Four-year letterwinner as a linebacker at Michigan State (2010-13)
Professional: Spent three seasons with the Houston Texans (2014-16)

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE:
Coach:
2019 Birmingham Bowl (Cincinnati)
2020 Rose Bowl/CFP Semifinal (Alabama)
2020 CFP National Championship Game (Alabama)
2021 Cotton Bowl/CFP Semifinal (Alabama)
2021 CFP National Championship (Alabama)
2022 Sugar Bowl (Alabama)
2023 Sun Bowl (Notre Dame)
2025 Sugar Bowl/CFP Quarterfinal (Notre Dame)
2025 Orange Bowl/CFP Semifinal (Notre Dame)
2025 CFP National Championship (Notre Dame)