Football
Nick Tabacca
- Title:
- Offensive Line Coach
- Email:
- football@msu.edu
- Phone:
- 355-1647
Nick Tabacca, who has 20 years of offensive line coaching experience, was named Michigan State's offensive line coach in January 2026.
Tabacca most recently spent 11 seasons (2014-24) coaching the o-line at Wake Forest, helping send several players to the NFL throughout his tenue in Winston-Salem. Wake Forest played in a school-record seven consecutive bowl games from 2016-22 and rewrote the offensive record book under former head coach Dave Clawson.
Tabacca also worked with current Michigan State safeties coach James Adams for three seasons (2022-24) at Wake.
Eight Demon Deacon offensive linemen, including four NFL Draft picks, played in the NFL under Tabacca's tutelage. In addition, Tabacca coached Matt Gulbin, who transferred to Michigan State for the 2025 season and was named a team captain, for four seasons at Wake Forest (2021-24); Gulbin was graded as the No. 2 center in the FBS by Pro Football Focus for the 2025 season and is an NFL Draft prospect in 2026.
After starting 46 games, Michael Jurgens was selected in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft by Minnesota and he has spent the past two seasons in the NFL with the Vikings. Jurgens began his career at center but moved to guard his senior year, where he was the highest-graded Power-5 interior lineman according to PFF (83.7) in 2023.
Several Demon Deacons coached by Tabacca earned All-ACC honors, including Zach Tom (first team in 2021) and Sean Maginn (second team in 2022 and third team in 2021). Tom, who also earned second-team All-America honors, was chosen in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by Green Bay and has started the past four years at tackle for the Packers.
Prior to coaching at Wake Forest, Tabacca spent two years as the offensive line coach at his alma mater, Ball State, from 2012-13. During his two seasons at Ball State, the Cardinals went 19-7 and earned back-to-back bowl bids while his players garnered All-MAC honors four times. In 2012, Tabacca was named one of the finalists for the FootballScoop Offensive Line Coach of the Year.
He also has full-time coaching experience at Butler (co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in 2011; offensive line coach in 2010) and Defiance College (offensive coordinator/offensive line from 2008-09; offensive line in 2007). Five of his linemen picked up all-conference recognition during his time at Butler, and seven o-linemen were all-league selections during his time at Defiance.
Tabacca began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ball State (2005-06) following his four-year playing career (2001-04) for the Cardinals. He was named a captain his senior year and was a two-time All-MAC Academic selection while starting in 33 games his final three seasons.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Tabacca and wife Alyssa have five children: Sophia, Lucas, Lily, Grace and William.
THE TABACCA FILE
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:
Graduate assistant at Ball State (2005-06)
Offensive line coach at Defiance (2007)
Offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at Defiance (2008-09)
Offensive line at Butler (2010)
Co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at Butler (2011)
Offensive line coach at Ball State (2012-13)
Offensive line coach at Wake Forest (2014-24)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
College: Four-year letterman as an offensive lineman at Ball State (2001-04)
Tabacca most recently spent 11 seasons (2014-24) coaching the o-line at Wake Forest, helping send several players to the NFL throughout his tenue in Winston-Salem. Wake Forest played in a school-record seven consecutive bowl games from 2016-22 and rewrote the offensive record book under former head coach Dave Clawson.
Tabacca also worked with current Michigan State safeties coach James Adams for three seasons (2022-24) at Wake.
Eight Demon Deacon offensive linemen, including four NFL Draft picks, played in the NFL under Tabacca's tutelage. In addition, Tabacca coached Matt Gulbin, who transferred to Michigan State for the 2025 season and was named a team captain, for four seasons at Wake Forest (2021-24); Gulbin was graded as the No. 2 center in the FBS by Pro Football Focus for the 2025 season and is an NFL Draft prospect in 2026.
After starting 46 games, Michael Jurgens was selected in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft by Minnesota and he has spent the past two seasons in the NFL with the Vikings. Jurgens began his career at center but moved to guard his senior year, where he was the highest-graded Power-5 interior lineman according to PFF (83.7) in 2023.
Several Demon Deacons coached by Tabacca earned All-ACC honors, including Zach Tom (first team in 2021) and Sean Maginn (second team in 2022 and third team in 2021). Tom, who also earned second-team All-America honors, was chosen in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by Green Bay and has started the past four years at tackle for the Packers.
Prior to coaching at Wake Forest, Tabacca spent two years as the offensive line coach at his alma mater, Ball State, from 2012-13. During his two seasons at Ball State, the Cardinals went 19-7 and earned back-to-back bowl bids while his players garnered All-MAC honors four times. In 2012, Tabacca was named one of the finalists for the FootballScoop Offensive Line Coach of the Year.
He also has full-time coaching experience at Butler (co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in 2011; offensive line coach in 2010) and Defiance College (offensive coordinator/offensive line from 2008-09; offensive line in 2007). Five of his linemen picked up all-conference recognition during his time at Butler, and seven o-linemen were all-league selections during his time at Defiance.
Tabacca began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ball State (2005-06) following his four-year playing career (2001-04) for the Cardinals. He was named a captain his senior year and was a two-time All-MAC Academic selection while starting in 33 games his final three seasons.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Tabacca and wife Alyssa have five children: Sophia, Lucas, Lily, Grace and William.
THE TABACCA FILE
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:
Graduate assistant at Ball State (2005-06)
Offensive line coach at Defiance (2007)
Offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at Defiance (2008-09)
Offensive line at Butler (2010)
Co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at Butler (2011)
Offensive line coach at Ball State (2012-13)
Offensive line coach at Wake Forest (2014-24)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
College: Four-year letterman as an offensive lineman at Ball State (2001-04)
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