Spartans Illustrated has obtained copies of many Michigan State assistant coaches' contracts via the Freedom of Information Act.

Readers may recall when newly hired MSU head football coach Jonathan Smith's contract was released at the end of November, Spartans Illustrated published the contract in full. Included in that was a $10.75 million per year salary pool for assistant coaches and support staff.

READ MORE SPARTANS ILLUSTRATED FOOTBALL COVERAGE:
- A behind-the-scenes look at Jonathan Smith's first month at Michigan State
- Early Signing Period 2024: Tracking all Michigan State signed recruits
- Michigan State Football's 2024 schedule released by the Big Ten Conference

Based on the information gathered in the contracts for MSU's assistants, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Joe Rossi is the highest paid assistant coach at an average of $1.6 million per year. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Lindgren (average of $1.2 million per year) and offensive line coach and run game coordinator Jim Michalczik (average of $1.05 million per year) also earn over seven figures per year.

Rossi's average salary of $1.6 million would make him one of the 20 highest paid assistant coaches in the country, according to a list published by USA TODAY in November 2023. His salary with the Spartans is an increase from the $1.1 million he was earning at Minnesota. Michigan State's previous defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton earned just under $1.2 million per year.

Lindgren's average salary of $1.2 million per year would place him just outside the top 30 highest paid assistant coaches, according to the same USA Today list. Lindgren also is seeing a salary increase in his new role at MSU as compared to his previous stop with Oregon State ($825,000 annually). The previous offensive coordinator at MSU, Jay Johnson, earned just under $1.5 million per year.

At the time of Spartans Illustrated's original FOIA request, co-special teams coordinator and rush ends coach Chad Wilt and MSU’s newest assistant coach Demetrius Martin (cornerbacks coach) had not been hired and thus were not released in the initial contracts provided to Spartans Illustrated. Wilt was officially hired on Jan. 4 and Martin was officially hired on Jan. 17. Wilt's and Martin's contracts have since been provided and the article has been updated to reflect that.

Listed below is the term of each coach’s contract and their compensation. The coaches are listed in order from highest compensation per year to the lowest compensation per year. All compensation figures are based on the annual base salary of each coach.

Compensation:
- Dec. 11, 2023 – Jan. 31, 2025: $1.5 million
- Feb. 1, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026: $1.6 million
- Feb. 1, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027: $1.7 million

Term ends Jan. 31, 2027 (through the 2026 season)

Compensation:
- Nov. 27, 2023 – Jan. 31, 2025: $1.1 million
- Feb. 1, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026: $1.2 million
- Feb. 1, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027: $1.3 million

Term ends Jan. 31, 2027 (through the 2026 season)

Compensation:
- Nov. 27, 2023 – Jan. 31, 2025: $1 million
- Feb. 1, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026: $1.1 million

Term ends Jan. 31, 2026 (through the 2025 season)

Compensation:
- Nov. 27, 2023 – Jan. 31, 2025: $525 thousand
- Feb. 1, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026: $575 thousand

Term ends Jan. 31, 2026 (through the 2025 season)

Compensation:
- Nov. 27, 2023 – Jan. 31, 2025: $525 thousand
- Feb. 1, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026: $575 thousand

Term ends Jan. 31, 2026 (through the 2025 season)

Compensation:
- Dec. 4, 2023 – Jan. 31, 2025: $525 thousand
- Feb. 1, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026: $575 thousand

Term ends Jan. 31, 2026 (through the 2025 season)

Compensation:
- Jan. 18, 2023 – Jan. 31, 2025: $450 thousand
- Feb. 1, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026: $500 thousand

Term ends Jan. 31, 2026 (through the 2025 season)

Compensation:
- Nov. 27, 2023 – Jan. 31, 2025: $450 thousand
- Feb. 1, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026: $500 thousand

Term ends Jan. 31, 2026 (through the 2025 season)

Compensation:
- Jan. 1, 2022 – March 31, 2024: $425 thousand

Term ends March 31, 2024

At this time, it is not clear that Hawkins has been signed to a new contract under Smith. The details released to Spartans Illustrated show his prior contract amendment terms remain in force at the time of the FOIA request, which was also after he had been retained on Smith's staff. Those contract terms have his employment set to expire at the end of March this year until he signs a new employment contract agreement.

Compensation:
- Jan. 3, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2025: $350 thousand
- Feb. 1, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026: $450 thousand

Term ends Jan. 31, 2026 (through the 2025 season)

The coaches with the longest terms are Lindgren and Rossi. Both of their contracts go through the 2026 football season. Adams, Bhonapha, Michalczik, Suiaunoa, and Wozniak all have contracts that will run through the 2025 season.

Hawkins’ contract will be the first assistant coach contract that will expire under first year head coach Jonathan Smith. This is because Hawkins has not yet signed a new contract to retain his employment with the Spartans beyond the terms of his original contract amendment signed at the end of December 2021 and approved by MSU Athletic Director Alan Haller in January 2022.

For all nine newly signed on-field assistants, there are postseason achievement bonuses that are non-cumulative and are written in each coach's contract under the same terms.

- Six regular season wins and participation in a bowl game: 4% bonus of annual base salary
- Seven or more regular season wins and participation in a bowl game: 8% bonus of annual base salary
- Participation in a College Football Playoff first round game: 10% bonus of annual base salary
- Participation in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game: 12% bonus of annual base salary
- Participation in a College Football Playoff semifinal game: 15% bonus of annual base salary
- Participation in a College Football Playoff Championship Game: 17.5% bonus of annual base salary
- Winning a College Football Playoff Championship Game: 20% bonus of annual base salary

On top of all those postseason bonuses, there is a 2.5% bonus for a Big Ten Championship Game appearance and an additional 2.5% bonus for a Big Ten Championship Game victory.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Join the discussion on this article in our premium forums by clicking here.

You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Threads, TikTok, and Instagram.

For video content, including our Red Cedar Radar podcast, find us on YouTube and consider subscribing.