Just a few days after losing its offensive coordinator to the NFL, Michigan State has reportedly found a replacement. And, if the rumored move comes to fruition, it will likely elicit chuckles -- and defensive coordinator fist pumps -- across the B1G landscape.
Both coachingsearch.com and footballscoop.com tweeted Wednesday morning that Jim Bollman has been hired as the Spartans’ new coordinator. Bollman would come to East Lansing from Purdue and would replace Dan Roushar, who left the Spartans earlier this month to coach running backs with the New Orleans Saints.
Bollman was hired by the Boilermakers just a little over a month ago as offensive line coach.
The school has declined to comment on the reports, although an official announcement could be forthcoming as early as today.
While at one point it was thought the program would stay in-house for Roushar’s replacement, the connection between Bollman and MSU head coach Mark Dantonio makes such a hire “sensible” on at least a personal level. Both coaches were on Nick Saban‘s Michigan State staff (1995-97 for Bollman) and on Jim Tressel‘s Ohio State staff (2001-2003 for Dantonio).
Bollman served as Tressel’s offensive coordinator even as The Vest retained play-calling duties. After Tressel’s unceremonious dismissal in May of 2011, Bollman retained his coordinator title and added play-calling responsibility under interim head coach Luke Fickell. Suffice to say, that experiment was the subject of much scrutiny and scorn.
Not retained by new head coach Urban Meyer, Bollman spent the 2012 season as Boston College’s line coach.