Michigan State University Athletics
Staff Directory
Christian Pawola
- Title:
- Assistant Defensive Backs Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- 355-1647
Christian Pawola, who joined the Michigan State football program in January 2024 as a graduate student defensive coach, was named assistant defensive backs coach in January 2025. Pawola will work alongside secondary coach Blue Adams and cornerbacks coach James Adams.
Pawola has worked extensively with current Spartan defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Joe Rossi, spending two seasons (2022-23) as a defensive graduate coach at Minnesota and two more years (2019-20) as a defensive student assistant coach for the Gophers.
Pawola was the linebackers coach at Thiel College in 2021, where Rossi was the defensive coordinator from 2003-06.
A native of Sycamore, Illinois, Pawola was a four-sport athlete in high school, including football. He graduated from Minnesota in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.
Pawola has worked extensively with current Spartan defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Joe Rossi, spending two seasons (2022-23) as a defensive graduate coach at Minnesota and two more years (2019-20) as a defensive student assistant coach for the Gophers.
Pawola was the linebackers coach at Thiel College in 2021, where Rossi was the defensive coordinator from 2003-06.
A native of Sycamore, Illinois, Pawola was a four-sport athlete in high school, including football. He graduated from Minnesota in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.
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