Mike McDonald - Staff Directory - Michigan State University Athletics

Staff Directory

Mike McDonald

Title:
Head Strength and Conditioning Coach / Football
Email:
Phone:
355-1647

Mike McDonald joined the Michigan State staff in December 2023 as the Spartans' head football strength and conditioning coach after spending the previous six seasons (2018-23) in the same role at Oregon State under head coach Jonathan Smith. McDonald also worked with Smith at Washington and Boise State.

McDonald's strength and conditioning program helped OSU become bowl eligible in 2023, part of three bowl games in his six years in Corvallis. Overall, McDonald has been a part of 13 bowl teams, with 11 as a coach and two as a player.

During his time at Washington as the assistant strength and conditioning coach from 2014-17, McDonald played an integral role in helping the Huskies to the 2016 College Football Playoff and an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl.

Prior to Washington, McDonald was the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Boise State from 2009-14, also coaching with Smith while with the Broncos.

Before Boise State, McDonald was a strength and conditioning intern at Washington State from 2008-09. McDonald started his strength and conditioning coaching career as an intern at his alma mater, Purdue, in 2008.

McDonald was a two-year letterwinner at Purdue (2006-07), playing defensive end and helping the Boilermakers to two bowl games. He played in 24 total games, with 13 in 2006 and 11 in 2007, registering 20 career tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack.

McDonald is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, among other professional organizations.

A native of Gatesville, Texas, McDonald earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from Purdue in 2008, and his master's degree in kinesiology from Boise State in 2011.

McDonald and his wife, Telia, are parents to twins, Tyson Howard and Maya Ruth.

THE McDONALD FILE

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
Head strength and conditioning coach at Oregon State (2017-2023)
Assistant strength and conditioning coach at Washington (2014-17)
Assistant strength and conditioning coach at Boise State (2009-14)
Strength and conditioning intern at Washington State (2008-09)
Strength and conditioning intern at Purdue (2008)

PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
Purdue, defensive line, 2006-07

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE:
2022 Las Vegas Bowl
2021 Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl
2017 Fiesta Bowl
2016 College Football Playoff Peach Bowl
2015 Heart of Dallas Bowl
2014 Cactus Bowl
2013 Hawai'i Bowl
2012 Las Vegas Bowl
2011 Las Vegas Bowl
2010 Las Vegas Bowl
2010 Fiesta Bowl
2007 Motor City Bowl (player)
2006 Champs Sports Bowl (player)