Football
Mike Bajakian
- Title:
- Quarterbacks Coach
- Email:
- football@msu.edu
- Phone:
- 355-1647
A 30-year coaching veteran who has extensive experience at both the collegiate and NFL level, Mike Bajakian joined the Spartan staff as the quarterbacks coach in January 2026. Bajakian previously worked with Fitzgerald at Northwestern, serving as the Wildcats offensive coordinator for three seasons (2020-22) under Fitzgerald and four seasons overall.
Bajakian has been an offensive coordinator at seven different schools (Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Boston College, Northwestern, Utah, Massachusetts) throughout his career for a total of 14 seasons; he has also coached quarterbacks at the FBS level for 19 seasons. In addition, Bajakian coached in the NFL for three seasons with the Bears (offensive quality control/wide receivers from 2004-06) and four seasons with the Buccaneers (quarterbacks coach from 2015-18).
Bajakian most recently served as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at UMass for the 2025 season. In 2024, Bajakian was the quarterbacks coach at Utah before taking over as interim offensive coordinator for the final five games of the season.
During his time as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Northwestern (2020-23), the Wildcats won the 2020 Big Ten West Division title along with bowl victories over Auburn (2021 Citrus Bowl) and Utah (2023 Las Vegas Bowl). NU finished the 2020 season ranked No. 10 in the final AP Poll as Bajakian coached quarterback Peyton Ramsey to a successful senior season that concluded with winning Citrus Bowl MVP honors.
In his one season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Boston College, the Eagles boasted the top rushing offense in the ACC and eighth-best in the FBS, averaging 253.3 yards per game.
Bajakian coached the quarterbacks for four seasons (2015-18) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his second stint in the NFL. During his first season with the Bucs in 2015, he helped Jameis Winston earn the Pepsi Offensive Rookie of the Year Award as Winston set team rookie records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, pass completions and passer rating. In 2016, Winston set then single-season franchise records for passing yards (4,090) and touchdowns (28), becoming the youngest player to throw for 50 touchdowns in NFL history. Bajakian coached Winston to a career best in completion percentage (.646) during his third season in 2017, and in 2018, Bajakian was on staff to see Tampa Bay lead the NFL with 320.3 passing yards per game with the team wrapping up the season ranked No. 3 in total offense.
Bajakian joined the Buccaneers from Tennessee, where he served as the team's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He was a part of a coaching staff that helped the Vols to their first bowl game appearance since 2010 and their first bowl victory since 2007, winning the Taxslayer Bowl over Iowa to cap the 2014 season.
Bajakian has had additional coaching stops at Cincinnati (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach from 2010-12), Central Michigan (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach from 2007-09) and the Chicago Bears (offensive quality control/wide receivers from 2004-06). While at Cincinnati, the Bearcats won back-to-back Co-BIG EAST championships and led the conference in scoring offense and total offense in two of the three seasons. During his time at Central Michigan as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the Chippewas won two MAC championships and set numerous school records on offense. Bajakian was instrumental in the development of quarterback Dan LeFevour, who set the MAC career record for most passing yards (12,905) and was twice named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year (2007, 2009).
A native of River Vale, New Jersey, Bajakian was an All-New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) selection and All-ECAC quarterback honoree while playing for Williams College.
THE BAJAKIAN FILE
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:
Quarterbacks coach at Delbarton School (1996-97)
Graduate assistant (defensive backs) at Rutgers (1998-99)
Graduate assistant (quarterbacks) at Michigan (2000-01)
Quarterbacks coach at Central Michigan (2002-03)
Offensive quality control/wide receivers with Chicago Bears (2004-06)
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Central Michigan (2007-09)
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Cincinnati (2010-12)
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Tennessee (2013-14)
Quarterbacks coach with Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2015-18)
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Boston College (2019)
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Northwestern (2020-23)
Interim offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Utah (2024)
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at UMass (2025)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
College: Played quarterback at Williams College (Mass.)
Bajakian has been an offensive coordinator at seven different schools (Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Boston College, Northwestern, Utah, Massachusetts) throughout his career for a total of 14 seasons; he has also coached quarterbacks at the FBS level for 19 seasons. In addition, Bajakian coached in the NFL for three seasons with the Bears (offensive quality control/wide receivers from 2004-06) and four seasons with the Buccaneers (quarterbacks coach from 2015-18).
Bajakian most recently served as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at UMass for the 2025 season. In 2024, Bajakian was the quarterbacks coach at Utah before taking over as interim offensive coordinator for the final five games of the season.
During his time as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Northwestern (2020-23), the Wildcats won the 2020 Big Ten West Division title along with bowl victories over Auburn (2021 Citrus Bowl) and Utah (2023 Las Vegas Bowl). NU finished the 2020 season ranked No. 10 in the final AP Poll as Bajakian coached quarterback Peyton Ramsey to a successful senior season that concluded with winning Citrus Bowl MVP honors.
In his one season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Boston College, the Eagles boasted the top rushing offense in the ACC and eighth-best in the FBS, averaging 253.3 yards per game.
Bajakian coached the quarterbacks for four seasons (2015-18) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his second stint in the NFL. During his first season with the Bucs in 2015, he helped Jameis Winston earn the Pepsi Offensive Rookie of the Year Award as Winston set team rookie records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, pass completions and passer rating. In 2016, Winston set then single-season franchise records for passing yards (4,090) and touchdowns (28), becoming the youngest player to throw for 50 touchdowns in NFL history. Bajakian coached Winston to a career best in completion percentage (.646) during his third season in 2017, and in 2018, Bajakian was on staff to see Tampa Bay lead the NFL with 320.3 passing yards per game with the team wrapping up the season ranked No. 3 in total offense.
Bajakian joined the Buccaneers from Tennessee, where he served as the team's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He was a part of a coaching staff that helped the Vols to their first bowl game appearance since 2010 and their first bowl victory since 2007, winning the Taxslayer Bowl over Iowa to cap the 2014 season.
Bajakian has had additional coaching stops at Cincinnati (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach from 2010-12), Central Michigan (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach from 2007-09) and the Chicago Bears (offensive quality control/wide receivers from 2004-06). While at Cincinnati, the Bearcats won back-to-back Co-BIG EAST championships and led the conference in scoring offense and total offense in two of the three seasons. During his time at Central Michigan as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the Chippewas won two MAC championships and set numerous school records on offense. Bajakian was instrumental in the development of quarterback Dan LeFevour, who set the MAC career record for most passing yards (12,905) and was twice named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year (2007, 2009).
A native of River Vale, New Jersey, Bajakian was an All-New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) selection and All-ECAC quarterback honoree while playing for Williams College.
THE BAJAKIAN FILE
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:
Quarterbacks coach at Delbarton School (1996-97)
Graduate assistant (defensive backs) at Rutgers (1998-99)
Graduate assistant (quarterbacks) at Michigan (2000-01)
Quarterbacks coach at Central Michigan (2002-03)
Offensive quality control/wide receivers with Chicago Bears (2004-06)
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Central Michigan (2007-09)
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Cincinnati (2010-12)
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Tennessee (2013-14)
Quarterbacks coach with Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2015-18)
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Boston College (2019)
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Northwestern (2020-23)
Interim offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Utah (2024)
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at UMass (2025)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
College: Played quarterback at Williams College (Mass.)
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